Stenson, Garcia share lead in Shanghai

Nov 8, 2008 - 11:14 AM By Andrew Mullen Special to PA SportsTicker

SHANGHAI, China (Ticker) -- Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell joined Ryder Cup teammate Oliver Wilson one shot back of the HSBC Champions' leaders Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia after third-round play at the rain-affected event briefly got underway on Saturday following the earlier completion of the delayed second round.

Garcia and Sweden's Stenson sit at the top of the leaderboard at 10-under-par after two rounds, with England's Wilson a shot further back after signing for a second round 4-under 68 at a damp Sheshan International Golf Club.

Following a flawless second round 65, McDowell was one of only a handful of players to begin their third rounds before darkness stopped play. But, the world No. 33 used the opportunity to join Wilson at 9-under overall after picking up a solitary birdie over four holes.

Tournament organizers confirmed the first event on the 2009 European Tour schedule and first on the new lucrative Race to Dubai, will be played over 72 holes, with the leaders set to complete their fourth rounds on Monday following a three-hour delay Saturday morning following torrential overnight rain.

Stenson, who began the day at the top of leaderboard after carding a first round 7-under 65 on Thursday before Friday's play was completely washed out, produced a solid 3-under 69.

"I had a great first round," he said. "I have been struggling with my scoring a little bit lately so it was good to get that one in.

"Then there was a long wait to get out there again, but I was pleased with my scoring this afternoon. I was still putting pretty good and I played mainly 3-woods to keep the ball in play and I hit some good approaches and was plodding along and making the odd birdie so it has been good."

Garcia maintained his bid to overtake Phil Mickelson as the world No. 2 with a bogey-free 68 as the Spaniard picked up all four strokes on his back nine courtesy of an eagle and two late birdies.

"I stayed pretty patient, had a lot of pars and I looked like I wasn't going to birdie," Garcia said. "The good thing was I was not making any bogeys.

"It was a solid round but it could have been different if I had made a couple of birdies earlier but at the end of the day, it was still a nice, solid round."

Wilson, who is playing at this event courtesy of his Order of Merit ranking as he has yet to win on the European Tour, carded five birdies to make his move up the leaderboard.

"It was really good," he said. "I played solid again. I got off to a nice start and birdied the first two and just plotted my way around.

"I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens but I didn't putt well. I had a couple of tap-ins on the par-5s and made a nice putt on (No.) 16 from 12 feet. I had not made anything all week so it is good to be in this position."

Defending champion Mickelson sits at 8-under after a second round 70, while former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (65), fellow Australian Scott Strange (68) and South Africa's Andrew McLardy (69) are also two shots off the lead after starting their third rounds before play was suspended.