South African Richard Sterne narrowly missed taking the outright lead when his birdie putt at the last came up just short.

Joining him on –6 is South African Richard Sterne. Richard had eight birdies and two bogeys in his round of 64. He gave himself a good chance on the last with an aggressive approach at the pin, where other players were easing a little left to take the bunker out of play, but he left his putt a few inches short.

Tied for joint third are Taipei's Lin wen-tang and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines. There are four players on four-under, including Oliver Wilson, who finished second in a play-off to Sergio Garcia in the HSBC Champions in Shangahi a couple of weeks ago, and is once more looking in ominously good form.