Els one behind in Indonesia Masters

JAKARTA (AFP) –

This handout photo released by the Asian Tour on May 2, 2013 shows Ernie Els of South Africa at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club in Jakarta. Unheralded Daisuke Kataoka of Japan signed for a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a one shot lead over Els and Bernd Wiesberger into the final round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters.

Unheralded Daisuke Kataoka of Japan signed for a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a one shot lead over Ernie Els and Bernd Wiesberger into the final round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters.

Kataoka, 24, birdied the final two holes for an 11-under-par total of 205 while Open champion Els of South Africa shot a 68 and Austrian Wiesberger a 67 at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event being held at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Kataoka’s 66, which included eight birdies and two bogeys, was the lowest round of the day and saw him lead an Asian Tour tournament for the first time since turning professional in 2007.

“My putting was normal on the first two days but it was great today,” Kataoka said.

“I never changed anything, somehow I just felt more confident with my putting. I’ve mastered the speed of the greens and that made my round slightly easier.

“This is the first time I’m leading a tournament. When I looked at the scores, I saw many good players chasing me so I hope to have some luck to win. It won’t be easy,” he added.

Els grabbed five birdies, including one at the last, to put himself in contention to win his first title of the year on Sunday.

“I was pretty consistent the whole day. I played well and it was one of those days where I tried to stay in the tournament,” he said.

“I was trying to get to 12-under but that didn’t quite happen. I’m one shot behind and I just wanted to stay in the mix which I managed to do.”