Birdie blitz puts Finch in front in China

By Liu Zhen and Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - Briton Richard Finch will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the $2.2 million China Open after shooting a sparkling six-under-par 66 Saturday.

The 31-year-old Englishman rattled in six successive birdies around the turn to move to eight-under for the tournament, a shot better than Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who carded a 68.

Australian Ashley Hall hit the joint best round of the day with a 65 to move into a tie for third with former champion Markus Brier on five-under and claim a share of the new course record at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club.

Leader Finch parred his first five holes and bogeyed the sixth, but his round burst into life with his streak of birdies from the seventh to the 12th holes, adding one more at the 16th to round off a fine day.

"Six birdies in a row made it a really nice day. I am really pleased with the round," Finch told reporters." But things can change quickly ... So I'll play my best and see what happens."

Britons David Dixon and Simon Dyson, Australian Scott Strange and big-hitting Thai Chapchai Nirat were in a share of fifth, four strokes off the pace.

RECORD BREAKERS

New Zealander Mark Brown cleared seven birdies without dropping any shot to set the new course record with Hall.