McDowell, Singh share third-round lead at Ballantine's Championship

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JEJU ISLAND, South Korea (AP) -- Northen Ireland's Graeme McDowell and India's Jeev Milkha Singh are four strokes clear of the chasing pack after Saturday's third round of the inaugural Ballantines Championship.

McDowell had a 6-under 66 and Singh an 8-under 64 to be 18-under par 198 after three rounds, four shots ahead of Paul McGinley. The Irishman went around in a 5-under 67, while Johan Edfors of Sweden had a 69 to be a shot further back in fourth.

McDowell picked up four strokes over as many holes to start the round and looked set for a second successive 64 but a double bogey on the 18th cost him the outright lead.

"I thought I might have a good chance to put the tournament sort of in my hands after coming through with a 6-under par in the front nine, but then Jeev ran off with five birdies after the turn," McDowell said.

"Im obviously very disappointed with my finish. I tried to cut a little five iron in there but double-crossed it and made it in six.

"But the way I look at it, I knew Jeev and I were going to have a little bit of tussle tomorrow at some point."

Singh, who had been feeling unwell through the tournament, fired nine birdies against a single bogey.

"McDowell played really well today except he had a little bad luck on the last," Singh said. "We brought the best out of each other."

British Open champion Padraig Harrington carded a four-under 68, to lag seven shots behind the lead, in equal fifth with Australia's Kane Webber.

Tournament and local favorite K.J. Choi shot a 3-under 69 to be back in the 17th place on 7-under par and out of contention for the title.

"I still haven't adapted well to the speed of the greens and I made many mistakes today," the world No. 5 said. "If the weather is fine tomorrow, I will do my best to reduce the gap at the top."

The final day at Pinx golf club will pitch a European against an Asian in this $2.9 million event, jointly sanctioned by their continental tours. McGinley was taken aback at the difficulty of making headway in dual-sanctioned events.

"The standard on the tours now is just unbelievably strong," McGinley said. "It's incredible, really incredible. The scoring and the cuts are much lower than you think and it's just so difficult to win on tour now."