Digest: Turner and McGee KO with illness; McNamara and Bridges OK
BANGLADESH, Dhaka : Sutijet Kooratanapisan of Thailand in action during round three of the Bangladesh Open. PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / KHALID REDZA
Asian Tour — An unwell Niall Turner opted to withdraw before the third round of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open and save himself for next week's European Tour sanctioned Maybank Malaysia Championship.
At the back of the field after scraping through the cut on the mark, the Corkman felt under weather when he arrived at Kurmitola Golf Club for the third round and opted to pull out rather than putting the biggest event of the season at risk. Scores
The inaugural $3m Maybank Malaysia Championship, which will be played at Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur, has attracted major stars including Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke and fellow major winners Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen.
English stars Danny Willett oand Matt Fitzpatrick and Asian Tour stars such as Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh and Thai trio Thaworn Wiratchant, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee will also tee it up.
European Tour — Illness forced Ruaidhri McGee to withdraw from the Tshwane Open but the news wasn't much better for Kevin Phelan or Peter Lawrie.
While play was suspended due to darkness with the second round incomplete, Phelan looked destined to miss the projected three over par cut by one stroke after adding a 71 to his opening 73.
The Mount Juliet touring professional made a tremendous start, making four birdies in six holes to turn in 31 at Pretoria Country Club's Waterkloof course.
But he lurched home in 40 with a bogey at the 11th and a double bogey seven at the 12th killing his momentum before he dropped further shots at the 14th and 18th.
Lawrie, who is battling to win back his card, shot a second successive 76 to finish well down the field on 12 over.
South Africa's Anthony Michael (64-69) leads by two strokes in the clubhouse on seven under par from former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (71-64). Scores
EPD Tour — Headfort's Rory McNamara is five shots off the lead with a round to play in the Open Tazegzout in Morocco.
The former amateur international made four birdies and six bogeys in a two over 74 to share 15th place on level par.
Stackstown left-hander Richard Bridges is tied 40th on three over after a 74 but Royal County Down's Reeve Whitson missed the three over cut by two after he added a 75 to his first round 74.