Hot finish a boost for Conor Purcell in China Open

Conor Purcell

Conor Purcell produced a sensational eagle-birdie finish to set up the opportunity to notch his best finish of the season in the Volvo China Open.

The Portmarnock rookie (27) arrived in Shanghai ranked 187th in the Race to Dubai after missing six of his first eight cuts since graduating from the HotelPlanner Tour last year.

But after easing through to the weekend, he recovered brilliantly from early bogeys at the first and fourth to card a four-under 67 that left him tied for 21st on four-under.

Purcell lies eight shots behind Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra and China’s Haotong Li, who hold a one-shot lead over Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat at Enhance Anting Golf Club.

But he is also just three shots outside the top ten after he birdied the sixth, ninth and 10th, then followed an eagle two at the 375-yard 17th with a birdie four at the 614-yard 18th.

Li, who won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February, aims to win his national open for the second time since 2016, while Chacarra earned his first victory at last month’s Hero Indian Open.

“I’ve already mentally prepared for tomorrow, so hopefully, tomorrow it will be just like Sunday in Qatar,” Li said after matching Chacarra with a 69.

“I just play my game. If I play my best golf, no one else can catch me.”

Chacarra, who is chasing a spot in the PGA Championship via the Asian Swing standing, was pleased to shoot 69 despite suffering with a thumb injury he picked up on Friday.

“I’m going to be way less stressed,” he said of the final round. “India was tough; I didn’t have a place to play. I will enjoy this one more.

“Hopefully my thumb is good to give me a chance. This is Haotong’s home course and I experienced today what it’s like to play with him.

“So I need to play my best level tomorrow to have a chance to win.”

At the HotelPlanner Tour’s Abu Dhabi Challenge, defending champion Garrick Porteous shot a four-under 66 to take a one-shot lead into the final round at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.

The Englishman leads by a shot from UAE Challenge winner Renato Paratore on 14-under with Royal Dublin’s Mark Kennedy the best of the Irish on five-under.

Kennedy (23) made four birdies in a 67 to share 35th on five-under, a shot better than Dermot McElroy (31), who shot 70.

Jonathan Caldwell (40) also shot 70 to share 62nd on one-under.