Bernd Wiesberger showed few signs of nerves as he extended his lead during the third round of the Ballantine’s Championship.
The 26 year old Austrian, one clear of Marcus Fraser overnight, has never won on The European Tour but doubled his advantage at Blackstone Golf Club.
Wiesberger’s composure was all the more impressive given the pressure applied by former Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley before he had even teed off.
The Irishman, who won the last of his four European Tour titles in 2005, birdied five of the first six holes on his return to the Icheon course.
Further birdies at the 12th and 18th saw him sign for a bogey-free 65 and set the clubhouse target at seven under par.
Fraser, winner of this event on Jeju Island in 2010, caught Wiesberger briefly when he pitched to two feet at the driveable par four fourth, but his playing partner responded with a 15 foot birdie putt on the same hole.
Wiesberger doubled his lead with a birdie at the sixth, then had the added bonus of holing a 12 foot birdie putt at the tenth – the most difficult hole this week – to move three clear on ten under.
However, Fraser responded immediately by chipping in for birdie at the 11th to trim the lead to two.
McGinley was alone in third, one ahead of Chile’s Felipe Aguilar, who was two under for the day with seven to play.
“The start set me up beautifully,” said McGinley. “Five under after six, it's a dream start.
“I don't think I've ever started a round like that before. To keep making birdies the way I did was great - that set me up nicely and I played solid.”
Wiesberger’s putter was red-hot after the turn – having birdied the 12th he avoided a first dropped shot in 36 holes with a 15 foot par putt at the 13th before sinking a 20 foot downhill birdie putt at the 14th.
Fraser followed him in at the 14th, and as a result was three behind with four to play.
