Aaron Cockerill heads into the final round of the 2023 ISPS HANDA-CHAMPIONSHIP with a one-shot lead after making a lightning-quick start on Saturday.
The Canadian began his third-round 64 with a hat-trick of birdies before making four more gains and a single bogey to reach 13 under par.
Related: Grant Forrest throws his hat in Japan with low 63
Cockerill will have the chasing pack hot on is heels as he bids to secure his maiden DP World Tour title at PGM Ishioka Golf Club, with Australian Lucas Herbert and Scotland’s David Law on 12 under after posting rounds of 68 and 64 respectively.
View this post on Instagram
Law started the day on six under but carded seven birdies and one bogey in his third round to storm into contention, while halfway co-leader Herbert made a birdie-bogey-birdie start but had to wait until the 16th for another birdie to move to 12 under.
View this post on Instagram
Japanese duo Rikuya Hoshino, who lives just 30 minutes from the course, and Takumi Kanaya are one shot further back alongside Scot Grant Forrest on 11 under.
Player Quotes
Aaron Cockerill: Dream start. Hit it close the first couple of holes. Made a ten footer, hit it close for eagle on five and missed it. An awesome start and played steady the rest of the way, but overall a very good day.
I feel really good. This is the best I’ve hit the ball in a long time and it’s required out here, with the rough being up and it’s firm. Just putting it in the fairway and everything else has been really solid.
It’s been awesome (having his daughter Addison). She’s a very good little baby, we’re very lucky. She sleeps a lot and she’s very happy. They are coming over to Rome in a couple of weeks, so excited to see them soon.
Lucas Herbert: There are two ways to look at it. Pretty frustrating, would have loved to have got into the lead, would have made tomorrow look a little easier. It just wasn’t happening out there for me.
Hit a lot of good putts, a lot of good shots, but it was playing tough out there. The wind was switching a lot, it felt like we had a cross wind, where it would change from just down to just into the wind. It was pretty tough to get that right. The greens were firming up so it was hard to get it close on a lot of those pins.
There’s nothing else I want to do tomorrow other than win. If we don’t get any rain overnight I would imagine the greens will be firm again. I think that’s a test I enjoy. If the pins are tucked again, it’s a lot about strategy, got to know where you will leave yourself for your second shot, third shot, where you’ve got to putt from.
David Law: The course is playing a lot trickier than it was on Thursday and even yesterday. It’s firmer, it’s a bit windier. The course is playing really good, you need to hit good shots to make birdies, thankfully I did that today.
The body feels better. I injured my hip and back just after Dubai (in January). I played in Thailand and India and I probably shouldn’t have. I wasn’t really fit and ready to go by then, and then I went to South Africa and it still wasn’t quite there.
I started to do Pilates just after India, that seems to have worked. It takes a bit of pressure off the hip. My back is feeling a bit better, I’m feeling fit.
Rikuya Hoshino: It is the best round for the week, actually I wanted to shoot -6 today. But, I am still in good position and just aim to win tomorrow.
Honestly, the greens were firmer today, I did not expect them to be that hard. My 2nd shot at the 18th hole was exactly as I wanted, but the ball went over the green. I was so surprised by it.
I hope to catch up with leader in the first couple of holes (tomorrow) and see how it goes. I just try to put the leader under pressure as much as possible. One of my goals for this year would be to win at least one tournament. So, it would be great to win on the DP World Tour in my hometown.
