ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP - Day three digest

Everything you need to know from Moving Day at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.

Cockerill took over at the top of the leaderboard, while Li produced a strong shot-of-the-tournament contender on day three of the 2023 ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP.

Here is everything you need to know from Moving Day at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.

Cockerill hits the front

Aaron Cockerill will take a one-shot lead into the final round after making a lightning-quick start on Saturday. He reeled off a hat-trick of birdies from the first before going close to making an eagle on the fifth. After settling for a birdie there, he picked up three more shots before a bogey at the 15th saw him finish the day on 13 under par. "Dream start," he said. "I hit it close the first couple of holes. Made a ten-footer, hit it close for eagle on the fifth and actually missed it. But yeah, just an awesome start and just kind of played steady the rest of the way, but overall a very good day."

Anything you can do...

After failing to find the putting surface in three at the long 16th, Cockerill had to get up and down from just off the green to save his par. And he very nearly went one better, going close to chipping in courtesy of this absolute beauty.

Shortly afterwards, Lucas Herbert produced a magnificent chip of his own from a tricky spot at the 11th, also being denied a bonus birdie by the narrowest of margins.

Li lands excellent eagle

Li Haotong produced a magic moment at the par-four 14th as he holed his approach shot from the fairway for an eagle. His ball landed a few feet past the pin before rolling back into the hole. With ISPS Handa donating $1,000 for every eagle made during the tournament to the G4D Tour, the tally stands at $37,000 after three days.

Hoshino makes big move

Home favourite Rikuya Hoshino stormed into contention on day three, posting a 66 to get within two shots of the lead. Hoshino is no stranger to this venue, having won the Heiwa PGM Championship here on the Japan Golf Tour in October. He said: "I believe knowing the course is an advantage. My course management worked very well in the last three days even as course conditions became tougher. One of my goals for this year would be to win at least one tournament. So, it would be great to win on the DP World Tour in my hometown."

Herbert's brilliant start

Halfway co-leader Herbert got off to the perfect start on Saturday, spinning his approach into the first to a matter of feet before rolling in his birdie putt. He sits one shot off the lead in a tie for second heading into the final round.