Hanson leads McIlroy by 1 in Shanghai

Shanghai, China – Peter Hanson managed a 2-under 70 on Saturday and that was enough to keep him atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the BMW Masters.

Hanson finished 54 holes at 16-under-par 200 and is one shot ahead of one of his Ryder Cup teammates.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy carded a 3-under 69 to close within one of Hanson at minus-15.

George Coetzee fired a 6-under 66 at Lake Malaren Golf Club and is alone third at 13-under-par 203.

Two more European Ryder Cuppers -- Luke Donald (68) and Justin Rose (69) -- are tied for fourth at 11-under-par 205. They were joined there by Charl Schwartzel (68), Michael Hoey (68), Alexander Noren (69) and Shane Lowry (69).

Hanson, McIlroy and eight of their Ryder Cup teammates are in the field this week along with their captain, Jose Maria Olazabal.

All eyes will be on Hanson and McIlroy on Sunday as they play together for the second straight day. Both players started their rounds Saturday with birdies on No. 2.

McIlroy stumbled to a bogey on the third to slip three back, but Hanson came back to him.

Hanson faltered to bogeys at four and five, and his lead was down to one. The Swede coughed up another stroke on the par-4 eighth to slip into a share of the lead with McIlroy and another Ryder Cup teammate, Nicolas Colsaerts.

That tie was short lived however as Hanson atoned for that mistake with a birdie on the ninth. Around the turn, Hanson birdied the 11th for the third straight round to move to 14-under.

McIlroy, who parred seven in a row from the fourth, also birdied the 11th to remain one back.

Hanson birdied the two par-5s on the back nine, Nos. 13 and 15, both for the third straight round to move to 16-under. As he did the previous two rounds, Hanson closed with three consecutive pars.

"The wind was blowing from opposite direction today, which made it a little bit trickier, and some of the pins were tucked away. It's great to play with Rory. Every time you get the chance to play against the world No. 1, it's a fantastic thing to do," Hanson stated.

"Hopefully, I can stay ahead of him, but I think it's going to be a tough one tomorrow and I need to play a little bit better than I did today."

McIlroy also birdied the 15th for the third day in a row. He followed with another birdie on No. 16 to close within one. That is how McIlroy ended as he parred the last two holes.

"I'm one behind and in a great position. I'll try to go out and shoot the best score possible and see what happens," said McIlroy. "As long as you're up there near the lead, it's a good position to be in. Whether I'm one ahead or one behind or level, I can go out there tomorrow and give it my all and hopefully that's good enough."

NOTES: Hanson will go for this sixth European Tour title on Sunday, while McIlroy will try for his fifth tour victory...Colsaerts soared into contention with six birdies in the first 11 holes, but two late double-bogeys dropped him down the leaderboard...Ashun Wu had a hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth.