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Fitzpatrick closes in on Rai
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Fitzpatrick closes in on Rai

Aaron Rai saw his overnight lead cut in half as he reached the turn on day four of the Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi.

Aaron Rai

Englishman Rai came into the final round with a six-shot advantage but he was reined in by countryman Matthew Fitzpatrick, who fired three birdies on his front nine to get to 13 under par.

Rai, meanwhile, remained on 16 under after following up birdies at the third and fourth with bogeys on the sixth and eighth as the rain poured down at Hong Kong Golf Club.

Five-time European Tour winner Fitzpatrick opened his round with back-to-back birdies before notching another from 20 feet at the short eighth to pile the pressure on Rai.

The overnight leader was still in a good position to claim his maiden European Tour title, though, with plenty of birdie opportunities to come on the back nine.

Challenge Tour graduate Victor Perez and Australian Jason Scrivener were three shots further behind Fitzpatrick on ten under as they made their way down the stretch.

Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello was the leader in the clubhouse on nine under.

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