Shanghai: Zhang Lianwei moved a step closer to capturing the title he most wants to win when he took the third-round lead at the Volvo China Open, two shots ahead of Australian-Korean Park Unho.

Playing behind the support of a large gallery at Shanghai Silport, the Chinese number one, the joint first-round leader, registered four birdies and one bogey to shoot a three-under-par 69 over the Championship layout for an aggregate score of 11 under.

The Singapore-based Park shot a five-under 67 for the low round of the day under warm and calm conditions while Australian Scott Strange was three shots off the pace in third. Scotland’s Simon Yates was alone in fourth at seven under while a group of four players, including joint second round leader Adam Fraser, was five strokes back.

Defending champion David Gleeson was tied for 10th at four under with joint first round leaders Angelo Que and Danny Zarate of the Philippines.

The Shenzhen-based Zhang, who has never lost a tournament in China when leading after three rounds, downplayed his round, saying his driving was not that good today and his iron play was better in the second round.

“I know all of China wants me to win but tonight is no different than any other night. This is my job,” he said. “If I have the chance to be aggressive tomorrow I am going to go for it.”

In addition to the top professional golfers, Silport welcomed a special guest during the third day of the Open. Long Yongtu, the former vice minister of MOFTEC (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation) and the chief negotiator for China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, visited the course to check out the action at the tournament. He later went for a round himself on the East Course, joined by Kunshan Mayor Wong Guozhen and Zhang Zhengyao, director of the Kunshan Foreign Trade Office.