Yunhe "Sampson" Zheng has defied brutal conditions to leave Australian teenager Billy Dowling playing catch-up at the high-stakes Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne. Zheng shot a stunning third-round six-under-par 65 in winds gusting up to 50km/h to jump out to a commanding four-stroke lead over Dowling, who could only manage a two-over 73 on Saturday.
With a three-round total of three-under 210, the rising Chinese star is the only player in the 120-strong field under par for the tournament, which offers the winner an invitation to the 2024 Masters and a spot in next year’s British Open at Royal Troon.
The score by Zheng, who attends the University of California, was the lowest-ever by an amateur on the composite course.
"I said to my caddie that if anyone shot under par today that's a really good round," said Dowling.
"Then he told me someone shot six or seven under. That's probably the best round they've ever shot. That's pretty cool."
Tied for third, five strokes behind Zheng, are New Zealand's first-round leader Kazuma Kobori, who shot 74, and China's halfway co-leader Ding Wenyi (76).
Max Charles (71) and Jasper Stubbs (74) are the next-best Australians, locked in a tie for fifth at three-over 216.
Zheng had an eagle on the par-five 10th, six birdies and two bogeys on the composite course that was last used for international competition at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
"I didn't watch the leaderboard really all day but when I saw that I was in a three‑shot lead, it felt really good to go from six down to three up," said the 22-year-old.
"To be able to shoot 65 like I did in the conditions like this today where everyone else is not having the best, it feels even more special."
Gold Coast golfer Dowling, 18, was only added to the field on Monday following the late withdrawal of an international player and had never previously played on the sand-belt course.
But he will enter Sunday's final round with a dream chance to book a ticket to Augusta National and Royal Troon next year.
"It was quite tough and the winds were gusting quite a bit towards the end there and I think that made it pretty difficult to play all day," said the reigning Queensland Amateur champion who shot a 59 at Surfers Paradise Golf Club last year.
"It's pretty good. I'm pretty happy with it."
