Ireland Leads World Cup, Team Canada Tied For 16th

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy kept Ireland atop the leaderboard for the third straight day Saturday in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan. However, Ireland's three-stroke advantage has been sliced to one by defending champion Sweden and Team Italy.

The Irish fired an 8-under 64 in Saturday's Four-ball matches at the $5.5 million tournament. McDowell shot five birdies, while McIlroy carded three for Ireland, which had a total 26-under 190 in its bid to win a third World Cup. Ireland opened the event Thursday with a remarkable best-ball score of 14-under par 58.

In Saturday's third round Sweden's Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson carded a 10-under 62, while the Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari shot a blistering 11-under 61 at the Mission Hills Golf Club.

Those three teams appear to be the only contenders heading into Sunday's final round of fourballs -- a more demanding alternate-shot format rather than the best-ball foursomes Saturday.

The Canadian duo of Albeerta native Stuart Anderson of Victoria, BC and Wayburne, Saskatchewan's Graham Delaet, who opened round one with an 8-under par 64 then collapsed with a 74 on day two, recovered in round three with a 65 for a 54-hole total of 203. Delaet contributed three birdies on the day . . . all on the front side . . . while Anderson posted a birdie and an eagle on his front nine together with a pair of birdies and the day's only bogey on the back side.

"Barring any disaster in the foursomes, I can't see any other teams but the top three winning," said Ireland's McDowell.

According to teammate McIlroy taking the cup back to Ireland would be the biggest highlight of his golfing career.

"You know, it's very special to win an event, but to win it with a partner and to win it with a friend would make it even more special," he said.

Americans Nick Watney and John Merrick, after registering a 67 on the day, are tied with Scotland's David Drysdale and Alastair Forsyth at 16 shots behind the leaders and three back of Canada.

OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup - - 54 Holes

1 IRELAND 58 68 64 190
T2 SWEDEN 64 65 62 191
T2 ITALY 64 66 61 191
T4 JAPAN 62 71 64 197
T4 SOUTH AFRICA 65 70 62 197
T6 WALES 66 68 64 198
T6 ENGLAND 66 69 63 198
8 VENEZUELA 67 67 65 199
T9 INDIA 67 68 65 200
T9 ARGENTINA 61 75 64 200
T9 AUSTRALIA 68 70 62 200
T9 KOREA 64 75 61 200
13 CHILE 69 67 65 201
T14 DENMARK 66 70 66 202
T14 SINGAPORE 66 70 66 202
T16 GERMANY 66 71 66 203
T16 CANADA 64 74 65 203
T18 CHINA 65 71 68 204
T18 THAILAND 67 70 67 204
T18 PHILIPPINES 68 72 64 204
21 NEW ZEALAND 67 68 70 205
T22 USA 67 72 67 206
T22 SCOTLAND 69 73 64 206
T24 FRANCE 67 73 67 207
T24 SPAIN 69 71 67 207
T26 CHINESE TAIPEI 67 74 67 208
T26 PAKISTAN 69 75 64 208
28 BRAZIL 68 75 68 211