Volvo China Open - Day three digest

Li and Chacarra go blow for blow, Dou gets lucky and Aphibarnrat eyes fifth DP World Tour title.

Everything you need to know from Moving Day at Enhance Anting Golf Club.

Li continues Chinese charge

Home favourite Haotong Li maintained the lead in Shanghai, but he is joined by Spain's Eugenio Chacarra at the summit as both players carded 69 on Moving Day to earn a one shot advantage. Li was sole leader by two shots after he birdied the eighth, but a bogey-birdie-bogey start to the back nine, coupled with Chacarra's brace of birdies from the 13th, meant the leading duo could not be separated after 54 holes at 12 under. Li still believes he is the man to beat though. "Definitely not my best today," he said. "I really enjoy the support from the crowd. I know everyone is coming for me and rooting for me. Hopefully I can deliver something special tomorrow. I’ve already mentally prepared for tomorrow, so hopefully tomorrow it will be just like Sunday (when I won) in Qatar. I just play my game. If I play my best golf, no one else can catch me."

In-form Chacarra remains in contention

The Spaniard won on his last DP World Tour start, lifting the Hero Indian Open trophy on only his ninth appearance. Just like in New Delhi, he holds the lead heading into the final round after a patient 69 on Saturday after three birdies and one dropped shot. Chacarra's effort is even more impressive after he injured his thumb when playing out of thick rough at the last on Friday. He would have had flashbacks when he found the same spot with his tee shot on Moving Day, but the 25-year-old salvaged a par to remain alongside Li at the top. "It was a grind," Chacarra said. "My thumb is not 100 per cent. It’s crazy, because we did wedges and I was fine, it should be the opposite. It’s with the driver where I have more pain. I drove the ball terribly and it was a grind all day. I started not knowing if I was going to be able to finish, so I’m glad that I pushed through it to see if I could get a little better and it’s way better than it was yesterday after the round. Hopefully my thumb is good to give me a chance. This is Haotong’s home course and I experienced today what it’s like to play with him, so I need to play my best level tomorrow to have a chance to win."

Pulkkanen's entertaining round

Tapio Pulkkanen began Moving Day as a co-leader with Li and Chacarra and he made a rapid start to open up a two shot advantage. The Finn birdied each of his first three holes, but he could not maintain that level as he had signed for a level-par 71 to sit three adrift of the leading pair. He had a colourful scorecard, carding six birdies, a double bogey and four dropped shots to join China's Zecheng Dou and Germany's Yannik Paul in a share for fourth.

Aphibarnrat surges into contention

Four-time DP World Tour winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat carded the joint second best round on day to move in contention in Shanghai. The Thai was flawless as he registered six birdies in his 65 to sit in solo third with 18 holes to play. Aphibarnrat has not won since the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth in February 2018, however, he feels title number five is coming. "I got off to a slow start," the 35-year-old said. "Just tried to play fairways and greens, give myself opportunities to putt. It seemed today that everything went to plan, except that drive on the last that was a little bit out of place. Still a decent round. I’m really happy with the way I played the last few rounds and stayed calm and patient. I just need to beat everyone on the course, that’s the job I need to do. I haven’t thought about when my last win was. I think about when my next one is coming, I don’t think it’s far away."

Dou bridging his luck at the last

Dou was going along nicely at Enhance Anting Golf Club, that was until his tee shot at the last. Is this lucky or unlucky? We still can't work it out.