Matsuyama still on track but MacManus looms large
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the overnight leader going into the final round of the 2010 Asian Amateur Championship, is still on track to claim victory as he turns for home with a two-stroke lead. Despite a nervous-looking opening tee shot, a bogey-free, two-under-par front nine has left him in a great position to claim the Masters Tournament invitation and exemption into Open Championship International Final Qualifying on offer to the winner.
Ominously, however, Australia’s Tarquin MacManus, 21, is piling the pressure on the 18-year-old Japanese, however, making five successive pars followed by a streak of three back-to-back birdies on the sixth, seventh and eight holes. Both players finished with a par four on the 443-yard ninth hole.
As they begin the inward half, MacManus trails Matsuyama, who is 13-under-par for the week so far, by just two strokes. A further five shots back is first-round leader Yosuke Asaji of Japan. He, in turn, is a shot ahead of MacManus’ compatriot Kieran Pratt, who is making good progress on two under par for the day, and five under for the Championship.
