Matsuyama retains three-shot lead in Shanghai

SHANGHAI: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama turned in his first flawless round of the WGC-HSBC Champions on Saturday to head into the final day’s play with a three-shot lead over reigning champion Russell Knox.

Starting the day with a three-stroke cushion after 19 birdies over the first two rounds, Matsuyama was again in impeccable form at the Sheshan International Golf Club, carding a four-under-par 68 to end the day 17-under for the tournament.

The 24-year-old picked up just one shot in his first eight holes but birdies at the ninth, the par-five 14th and the last kept him ahead of the chasing pack at the $9.5 million event.

Knox, who won on debut last year, also carded 68, with American Daniel Berger a shot behind him in third place on 13-under after mixing eight birdies and three bogeys in his 67.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who won at Sheshan in 2010, started with three birdies in a row and finished with a 68 to tie for fourth place with American Bill Haas (70), five shots off the pace.

Haas put pressure on the leader with three birdies over his first six holes to cut Matsuyama’s lead to a single shot but dropped a shot before and after the turn and picked up just one more birdie over the back nine.

World number three Rory McIlroy also started strongly with birdies on the second, sixth and eighth holes but lost ground with three bogeys on the back nine to end up with a 70.

The Northern Irishman has a share of eighth place on nine-under with five others, including British Open champion Henrik Stenson (67) and American Matt Kuchar, whose 68 included a hole-in-one on the shortened par-three 17th.