KUALA LUMPUR: Bernd Wiesberger birdied six of his first seven holes en route to his best European Tour score yet, a nine-under 63 that catapulted him past defending champion Lee Westwood and into the Malaysian Open lead after three rounds.
Westwood, who held a share of the lead at the end of each of the first two days, remained in contention three strokes back with a 69 for the day.
But the Englishman, who is notably comfortable with the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club’s undulating fairways, has snared fewer birdies each day as others seem to be figuring the course out — including Wiesberger.
On a day where temperatures climbed to 33 degrees centigrade (91 fahrenheit), the Austrian started hot and cooled only slightly on his way to 10 birdies and sole first place at 17-under-par for the tournament.
Second-round co-leader Alejandro Canizares was two strokes behind Wiesberger at 15-under for the event after shooting a 68 that included an eagle — a 110-yard approach that skipped into the hole on the par-four 16th. Westwood was tied for third along with his fellow Englishman Paul Waring at 14-under.