Aaron Rai believes patience will be key to his chances of victory over the weekend at the Hong Kong Open. The 23-year-old is searching for his maiden European Tour title and after leading overnight he carded nine birdies on his way to a course-record 61 as he moved to 14-under.
That is enough to give him a four-shot lead over South Korea’s Park Hyowon, with fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick six back after matching Park’s 62.
Those three got the better of the conditions and will again be hoping to be out when the wind is at its most moderate over the weekend in Fanling.
With a four-shot lead it looks like the Wolverhampton-born star’s tournament to lose and he believes sticking to his game plan will be the key to his success.
Rai told the European Tour’s website: “I’ve just got to try and stay as close to the original game plan as much as possible. I think if you get too conservative and if you try and defend the lead a little bit too much, you can start going backwards very easily, but also you can’t get too aggressive around this course.
“As hard as it is and as easy as it is to say, you just have to try and stick to what you’re doing and what has got you into this position.”
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