China’s Chen grabs Volvo China Open lead, eyes biggest win of his career

Chen Guxin was playing on the Asian Development Tour last year, he is one good round away from winning the biggest tournament of his career.

The Chinese 20-year-old carded a six-under-par 66 in the third round of the Volvo Chin Open to move to 14 under, three shots clear of compatriot Ding Wenyi and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut.

Overnight leader Eugenio Chacarra struggled to a one-over 73, to slip to eight under and in five-way tie for fourth. Andy Ogletree, who leads both the Asian Tour and International Series orders of merit, finished with a 72 and is a shot further back in ninth.

Chen won twice on the ADT last year, but an International Series win would be by far the most impressive since turning professional, and he put together an impressive round of seven birdies and just one bogey, which came when he three-putted 18.

Despite having a buffer between himself and the rest, Chen said he thought the winning scored would be 18 under, so would “need to shoot three or four under” on Sunday at Hidden Grace Golf Club.

The top-65 on the order of merit keep their Tour cards for 2024 and with just five events remaining, including this week, Chen has chosen the right time to kick start his season. He has played 10 events this season, recorded a best finish of joint 14th in The DGC Open, and missed four cuts.

Taichi Kho does not need to worry about the Tour money list after winning the World City Championship in March, and a 70 on Saturday moved him onto six under and in a tie for 15th.

Despite slipping back down the field, Ogletree is still well placed to wrap up the series money list title, and with it a spot on a team in next year’s LIV Golf League.

He’ll lift that trophy on Sunday if he finishes outright third or better, and Kieran Vincent finishes outside the top-five. Vincent, second on the list, carded a 72 and is four-under in a tie for 23rd.

However, if Chacarra can rediscover his form from Friday, that would mean Ogletree needed to finish outright second to clinch the title, with two series events remaining: next week’s Hong Kong Open and the BNI Indonesian Masters the week after.