David Micheluzzi produced a birdie-birdie finish in an impressive 66 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Porsche Singapore Classic.
The Australian was stalking the leaders all day but it did not look like he would finish the round on top when Sam Bairstow opened up a four-shot lead around the turn at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
A pair of bogeys on the back nine in the Englishman’s 68 left the door ajar, however, and it was Micheluzzi who took advantage to move to 13 under and edge ahead.
Andy Sullivan recovered from back-to-back double-bogeys to post a 69 and sit alongside countryman Bairstow, one clear of India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who carded a 68.
Thai amateur TK Ratchanon Chantananuwat, England’s Paul Casey, Scot Ewen Ferguson and Austrian Matthias Schwab were at 10 under, a shot clear of Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, England’s Jordan Smith and Swede Sebastian Söderberg.
Casey Jarvis is the leading South African on seven under (T18) after carding 68, followed by Oliver Bekker and Ockie Strydom on six under, both of whom shot 67.
Rookie Micheluzzi is looking for his first DP World Tour win this week but knows how to get over the line, having claimed four wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia in the past 17 months.
Three of those helped him win the Order of Merit in 2023, earning his place on the DP World Tour, where he has two top 10s from 20 starts.
He finished in a tie for 17th at last week’s PGA Tour of Australasia 2024 season finale and revealed a change of equipment is helping him after a recent “breakdown” playing Down Under.
“I’ve basically changed everything,” he said. “I’ve got a whole new set in: new irons, new driver, new three-wood, new grips. I basically did a whole reboot and it’s nice.”
He added: “Today was very hot, you could see me with the towel over the head basically the whole day. I just try not to get angry because that would make it worse, just be as patient as possible, take as much time as I need and keep a wet towel on me.
“The first eight holes I didn’t play so great and then the last 10 I really got dialled in and holed some putts which was nice.”
Co-overnight leader Freddy Schott birdied the 1st, 3rd and 5th to stay in the fight for the lead but he would make a quadruple and a triple on the back nine to fall away as Bairstow and Sullivan did battle.
After taking advantage of the par-five 3rd, Bairstow almost made an ace at the par-three 4th, pitched to close range on the short par-four 5th and left himself four feet at the 6th for four birdies in a row.
Sullivan also went on an impressive run on the front nine, making a two-putt birdie at the 3rd and leaving himself less than 10 feet at the 4th and 5th to share the lead with Bairstow.
Both men also birdied the 8th but Sullivan made double-bogeys on the 9th and 10th before dropping another shot on the 11th and with Bairstow making a gain on the 10th from 10 feet, he led by four.
A bogey on the 13th then gave the chasing pack hope and Micheluzzi, Sharma and the resurgent Sullivan made their moves.
Sharma birdied the 1st and 3rd and then spun a stunning approach into the 6th to set up another birdie.
A long putt on the 15th was followed by an excellent approach on the next but he bogeyed the last in a disappointing finish.
Sullivan holed a bunker shot on the 12th, made a 15-footer on the 15th and left himself a short one on the next to get back to 11 under before Micheluzzi’s big finish handed him the lead.
The 27-year-old birdied the first but gave the shot straight back before making gains on the 5th, 8th, 12th and 13th to move up the leaderboard.
He then left himself 12 feet on the 17th and a smart up and down on the last had him on top, with Bairstow’s closing bogey handing him the solo advantage.
Sullivan then made a two-putt birdie on the last to make it three in his last four holes and climb back within striking distance.
– Edited report from DP World website
Photo: Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images
