National Games: Jason Hak drags himself into medal contention with late birdie run
- Hak’s medal chances were on the verge of being extinguished, but a late run of form kept his chances alive on day three
After a fine start of three birdies through the first five holes, the 27-year-old began to struggle for consistency around the turn. His round was petering out at one-under par for the day, which would have seen him slump down the leader board and back into the pack as the field began to get to grips with the Xi’an Qinling International course on moving day.
But three birdies down the home straight, including back-to-back birds at 17 and 18, saw the Hong Kong man bound back into a share of third place at 12-under par for the tournament with one round remaining.
Ominously, however, Shanghai’s Wu Ashun, the second-highest ranked player in the field this week, ended the round occupying top spot on the leader board for the second time in three days. His knock of four-under-par 67 sees him sharing the lead at 15-under par for the tournament with Hainan’s Yuan Yechun, the overnight leader and top-ranked player in Xi’an at No 318 in the world.
Hak’s world ranking of 395 makes him the 5th highest-ranked player in the field.
Three shots off the leaders, Hak needs a big swing on final day if he is to make the podium in Xi’an.
