MacIntyre shines on weather-disrupted Saturday in Korea
Overcame tricky conditions to grab a share of the lead before play was suspended
Robert MacIntyre overcame tricky conditions to grab a share of the lead before play was suspended due to fading light on the weather-affected third day of the $2 million 2023 Korea Championship Presented by Genesis.
After morning fog and rain caused the afternoon tee times to be pushed back by two hours and 15 minutes, MacIntyre and co. played their third rounds in strong winds, with no-one able to keep their cards clean as Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea really showed its teeth.
But that did not faze the Scot, who seemed to be holding his own shot-of-the-day competition as a series of tremendous wedge shots helped him sign for a 69 just before the daylight ran out.
Play resumes at 08.00
MacIntyre heads into day four on eight under par, tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal, who has two holes to complete when play resumes at 08.00 local time on Sunday morning.
Halfway co-leader Park Sanghyun was in a tie for third, one shot behind the leaders, after making three birdies and four bogeys in his first 14 holes.
Scotland's Scott Jamieson was also on seven under, having made two birdies and one bogey in his third-round 71.
Dubai based Adrian Meronk, Richard Mansell and Marcus Helligkilde were safely in the clubhouse on six under.
MacIntyre began the day three shots off the lead and produced a good par save at the first to remain at five under.
He took advantage of the par-five third before holing a monster birdie putt on the eighth to get within one stroke of the summit.
Remarkable par saves
The two-time DP World Tour winner picked up another shot at the 14th before pulling off two remarkable par saves on the 15th and 16th.
He dropped his first shot of the day after missing the green at the 17th but bounced back with a birdie from around eight feet on the last to earn a share of the lead.
MacIntyre said, ‘It was absolutely brilliant, if I'm being honest.
‘I missed quite a lot of greens today and I just knew that my attitude had to be good. Just accept where it ended up and try your best.
‘I surprised myself with some of the shots. Even that one on the 18th, I was trying to just cut spin it and it came out dead straight but had so much spin on it.
‘I left myself in the right spots, always into wind. The 17th was a bit more difficult, I didn't get preferred lies so it wasn't perfect. It was sitting higher and it popped a little on me.
‘But overall it was a really good round of golf.
‘We hung in there. It's a big attitude weekend, this. You've got to be positive. Tomorrow's going to be the same - no matter where we end up, just stay positive and give it your best.’
Larrazábal also produced some of his very best golf on Saturday, making birdies at the second, third and seventh and producing a number of wonderful par saves either side of a bogey on the 12th.