Aaron aiming for maiden win on DP World Tour
Cockerill who plays out of The Els Club Dubai, leads in Japan with 18 holes remaining
Aaron Cockerill leads in Japan at the 2023 ISPS HANDA-CHAMPIONSHIP after a Saturday 63, giving himself a one shot advantage from David Law and Lucas Herbert.
The Canadian who plays out of The Els Club Dubai started the third round three shots off the trio of leaders, but a fast start on Saturday morning reeling off three birdies in as many holes got his round off perfectly.
Four further birdies on holes 5, 9, 12 and 14 moved him to 14 under par. A bogey on the 15th dropped him back to 13 under par as he set the clubhouse lead which wouldn’t be matched.
“Dream start. Hit it close the first couple of holes. Made a ten footer, hit it close for eagle on five and missed it. An awesome start and played steady the rest of the way, but overall a very good day” said Cockerill.
Really solid
“I feel really good. This is the best I’ve hit the ball in a long time and it’s required out here, with the rough being up and it’s firm. Just putting it in the fairway and everything else has been really solid.”
Aaron goes in search for his maiden DP World Tour title on Sunday but he has plenty who will be nipping at his heels. As mentioned, Australian Herbert and Scotland's Law are just one shot back on 12 under after posting rounds of 68 and 64.
Overnight leader Herbert started birdie-eagle-birdie but then stalled. 12 consecutive pars and then a final birdie on the par five 16th for his third round of two under par.
“There are two ways to look at it. Pretty frustrating, would have loved to have got into the lead, would have made tomorrow look a little easier. It just wasn’t happening out there for me” said Herbert.
Meanwhile Law had seven birdies and one bogey for his six under par 64.
Law commented “The course is playing a lot trickier than it was on Thursday and even yesterday. It’s firmer, it’s a bit windier. The course is playing really good, you need to hit good shots to make birdies, thankfully I did that today.”
Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino and Takumi Kanaya are a further shot back in 4th. While Dubai’s Rafa Cabrera Bello is sitting at 10 under par in a tie for 7th.
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