Francesco Molinari and Byeong-hun An tied for PGA Championship lead

Sport360 staff 22:06 23/05/2015
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  • Leading the way: Francesco Molinari hits his 3rd shot on the 18th hole at Wentworth.

    Italy's Francesco Molinari and South Korean Byeong-hun An share the lead going into Sunday's final round of the European PGA Championship at Wentworth.

    An, 23, sunk back to back birdies late in his third round on Saturday to match his partner's 14 under par total, on a day when spectacular shots ignited the old course.

    – #360BUSINESS: McIlroy's DDF Irish Open sponsorship role

    Relatively unknown Englishman Tommy Fleetwood produced the first albatross of his career, and only the third in the tournament's history, at the par five fourth hole while veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez made the tenth hole-in-one of his European Tour career.

    Jimenez, 51, did it at the par three second hole.

    It was the third time he has achieved it in 2015 and he now holds the European Tour record for holes-in-one by a single player.

    Jimenez finished on 10 under and still in contention for the big prize with seven players within six shots of the leaders.

    Molinari, 32, looked to have taken a grip on the tournament when he moved to 15 under by the 13th hole having surged clear with five birdies.

    But he dropped a shot at the next and was unable to maintain his momentum, and failed to birdie either of the two final par five finishing holes.

    The ice-cool Italian did remain calm to sink crucial par putts while An, 23, refused to buckle under the pressure and if anything finished the stronger in the later afternoon sunshine.

    Unlike Molinari, he did manage to pick up shots at the inviting 17th and 18th holes to ensure the pair will go head to head on Sunday.

    Thailand's Thongchair Jaidee posted a 68 to lie two shots back and then Fleetwood was the toast of Wentworth with his incredible albatross in a magnificent 65 which has put him in with a chance of victory.

    It could have been an even better round but he missed a putt on the final hole for another birdie. However, he and the spectators witnessed his fairway iron on the 552-yard par five fourth bounce roll into the hole.

    He made a mockery of the hole and so did his playing partner, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson who eagled it but walked off well and truly overshadowed by his rival.

    — The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 23, 2015

    Jimenez also had the fans roaring loud with a hole in one at the par three second hole. The ball spinning back into the hole and the popular 51-year-old Spaniard did his customary old gunslinger celebration, removing his trademark sun glasses and smiling broadly.

    He then birdied the next but failed to build on the stunning start, faltering later in his round with bogies at 14 and 15 before a birdie at the last puts him right in the picture.

    Swede Alex Noren, who loves this course, is also in the hunt a shot back following a 68 while Irishman Shane Lowry's 67 also gives him a shout on 8 under.

    English duo Justin Rose and Luke Donald are well off the pace.  Rose had another disappointing day, carding a 71 for two under and out of contention. And Donald had an even worse day with a 77 for one over for the tournament.

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