HONG KONG, Oct 18 (AFP): Australian Marcus Fraser will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the $1.3 million Hong Kong Open, his first tournament in eight months, after a five-under-par 65 Saturday.
The 36-year-old has spent most of this year "sitting on the couch" after surgery for a hand injury but sits top of the leaderboard in the southern Chinese city ahead of compatriot Scott Hend.
Four-time major winner Ernie Els-the overnight leader-endured a difficult day stumbling to a one-over-par 71 to lie three shots behind Fraser going into Sunday.
Fraser, ranked 282 in the world, last played competitive golf in February when he was forced to retire from the Dubai Desert Classic during the second round because of excruciating tendonitis in his left hand.
Surgery to remove bone, three months worth of injections and rehabilitation followed, with Fraser only able to start practising again six weeks ago before getting back into competitive golf Thursday.
"No one is more surprised than I am, that's for sure, after eight months of sitting on the couch," Fraser told reporters at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
"I wasn't really sure what to expect. To come in and play the way I did on the back nine today was pretty pleasing," he added.
Fraser-who has two European Tour wins-started with a bogey but bounced back with six birdies, including four on the inward half.
"I'd forgotten how much fun it is to play a golf tournament, especially being in the mix," he said, adding that his hand feels stiff.
"I had no idea coming into the week and I've got no idea going into tomorrow.
"Hopefully I'll just go out and keep playing the way I'm playing and I feel pretty comfortable out there at the moment," he said.
Injury-hit Fraser on top in HK, Els stumbles
FE Team | Published: October 19, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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