Richard Finch leads China Open

BEIJING, April 18 (UPI) -- England's Richard Finch shot 6-under-par 66 Saturday and became the third leader through 54 holes at the European Tour's China Open in Beijing.

His three-round total, 8-under 208, is one stroke better than Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (68).

The 31-year-old Finch, a two-time winner on the European Tour last season, started slowly Saturday with five straight pars and a bogey, but a run of seven consecutive birdies vaulted him to the top of the leader board by the end of the round.

"I'm delighted with 66," Finch said. "The wind didn't seem to be quite as strong this afternoon, so that was a nice little break."

First-round leader Markus Brier (71) shares third place with Ashley Hall (65).

Both Hall and Mark Brown matched the course record by shooting 7-under.

Second-round leader Ho-Sung Choi shot 3-over 75 and dropped into a share of ninth place at 3-under 213 with three others -- Brown, Chapchai Nirat (72) and David McKenzie (71).