Jimenez, Campbell share lead in Hong Kong

Fanling, Hong Kong – Miguel Angel Jimenez carded a 2-under 68 on Saturday to join Michael Campbell atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the Hong Kong Open.

Campbell, the second-round leader, managed a 1-under 69 at Hong Kong Golf Club. Jimenez and Campbell finished 54 holes at 10-under-par 200.

Matteo Manassero fired a 6-under 64 to join Lian-Wei Zhang (69) in a share of third place at minus-9. Fredrik Andersson Hed (70) is alone in fifth at 8- under-par 202.

Jimenez, the 2004 and 2007 champion, parred his first nine holes. He dropped in a birdie effort on the 10th to get on the board.

After a pair of pars, the Spaniard birdied the par-5 13th for the third straight round. That gave him a share of the lead at 10-under. Jimenez parred the last five holes to end there.

Campbell, who held the 36-hole lead for the first time since the 2002 European Open, started his round with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first. After four pars in a row, he tripped to a bogey to slip one behind Zhang.

The 2005 U.S. Open champion erased that mistake with his second birdie in two days at the seventh. While Campbell made birdie from eight feet out, Zhang stumbled to a bogey as the two traded the lead.

Campbell faltered to a bogey at the par-4 11th. He again came right back with a birdie at 12 to regain a 1-shot lead. Campbell parred the final six holes to end at 10-under.

"Today was sort of scrappy. Apart from a couple of drives, it was pretty average really. But once again, I just managed to grind out a score, which is very important with me not playing so well. I turned a 73 into a 69, which is always nice," Campbell said.

"I've still got a chance to win tomorrow, and that's what I wanted to do after three rounds - give myself an opportunity to go out there and hopefully lift that trophy."

Zhang reeled off three straight birdies from the second to jump into the lead at 11-under. However, he struggled to three consecutive bogeys from the sixth to fall back to even-par for his round.

After four pars in a row, Zhang birdied the 13th to move back to minus-9. He finished there as he parred the last five holes.

NOTES: Campbell will go for his ninth European Tour title on Sunday, while Jimenez will try to win for the 19th time on tour ... Rhys Davies entered the week 119th on the Order of Merit, the last spot to maintain his tour card for next year. He carded a 1-under 69 to move into a share of 53rd at 1-over 211.