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Yang battles ahead at China Open; Furyk shares lead at Hilton Head

Third-round leader Y.E. Yang of Korea plays a bunker shot on his first hole in Suzhou on April 17.
Third-round leader Y.E. Yang of Korea plays a bunker shot on his first hole in Suzhou on April 17.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Y.E. Yang takes a one-shot lead into the final round of European Tour's China Open
  • Korean golfer shoots a bogey-free four-under-par 68 despite windy conditions on Saturday
  • The 38-year-old is chased by Finland's Mikko Ilonen and Welshman Jamie Donaldson
  • Jim Furyk in three-way tie for lead at halfway stage of PGA Tour's Verizon Heritage event

(CNN) -- Korean golf star Y.E. Yang will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the European Tour's China Open after firing a four-under-par 68 on Saturday.

Yang, who finished eighth at the Masters last weekend, went around Suzhou Jinji Lake Golf Club without registering a bogey despite windy conditions.

The world No. 23, Asia's first major winner after his PGA Championship success last year, finished the day on 14-under 202 to hold a slim advantage over Finland's Mikko Ilonen, who also carded 68, and Welshman Jamie Donaldson (69).

"Today was bogey free but it was also tough to save par on a lot of occasions," the 38-year-old Yang told the European Tour Web site.

I am very satisfied that I saved a lot of pars, and it puts me in a good position on the leaderboard
--Y.E. Yang
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  • Y.E. Yang
  • PGA European Tour
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"Overall, it was difficult but I am very satisfied that I saved a lot of pars, and it puts me in a good position on the leaderboard. Hopefully I can sustain my performance tomorrow."

World No. 232 Ilonen, who started the day in fifth place, carded six birdies and two bogeys, while 169th-ranked Donaldson remained in second as he dropped just one shot during his third round.

Spain's Pablo Larrazabal was fourth on 11-under after shooting 70, leaving him one shot ahead of Donaldson's compatriot Stephen Dodd and third-round leader Do-Hoon Kim.

Dodd fired a flawless 66 to jump up from 23rd place, but Korean Kim faded with a four-bogey 73.

Meanwhile, Jim Furyk shared a three-way tie for the lead at the halfway stage of the U.S. PGA Tour's Verizon Heritage tournament in South Carolina.

The American carded three-under 68 on Friday to be level on seven-under 135 with compatriot Charles Howell (67) and Englishman Greg Owen (69) at the Harbour Town links course on Hilton Head Island.

Australia's Stuart Appleby shot 67 to be one shot back in a group of five with Americans Bryce Molder(6)8, J.J. Henry (68), Chad Campbell (67) and Boo Weekley (68).

Spanish star Sergio Garcia missed the cut by two shots after a second-round 77 that featured five bogeys and two doubles.