IRISH hopes faded in Shanghai yesterday as Peter Lawrie fell through the field after struggling to a 76, level par in total. He started the day just a shot behind Paul Lawrie but having faded to his worst round of the week, he now lies a full six strokes behind new leader Henrik Stenson. He's joined on a total of 216 by David Higgins who hit a 73, while an indifferent 72 left Damien McGrane two further behind his compatriots.

There was better news for England's Paul Casey who continued his love affair with China as he mastered the greens to put himself within two shots of Stenson at the end of the third round. A twotime winner in China, he fired himself into title contention yet again as he shot a threeunder-par 69 to go four-under going into today's final round.

The Englishman began his campaign with an even-par 72 before improving his round in Friday's rain-hit second round on 71. ?I am very happy to be in the tournament with a shout basically for tomorrow considering the numbers I have been putting, " said Casey.

There were a lot of colours on the scoreboard and a lot going on out there. So if I can cut the blobs out, I can put a decent round together tomorrow, " he said.

Casey, the former China Open and TCL Classic winner in China, started the day in 12th position on one-under but the 28-year-old struck one on of the best shots of the day when he sunk an eagle chip from about 30 yards on the ninth green.

It was very tough out there. The reason why I made so many birdies was because I struck the ball very well. It's a tough golf course if you are not striking very well, " he said.

Asked what score would be needed on Sunday to win the tournament, Casey replied:

?Colin Montgomerie suggested that eight-under would be a good score. That could be a good number to shoot for. So shooting a 68 would be my goal tomorrow. It would be my best round of my week."

Montgomerie improved his earlier second-round score with a steadier one-under-par 71 to lie in eighth position . . . and two under for the tournament . . . after the third round played in overcast conditions. Montgomerie collected more bogeys than birdies in the rain-delayed second round as he failed to finish strongly when play resumed. The fiery Scot began the third round brightly when he birdied the par-four first hole, but collected bogeys on the third and 11th and 16th holes before he birdied the 17th.

Stenson, the highestranked golfer in the tournament at 15 in the world, held onto a one-shot lead from Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez Castano, who carded a threeunder-par 69. Stenson finished the day on a 71 to go six-under for the tournament.

Joining Casey in third place was Australia's Peter O'Malley, who briefly held the outright lead on Saturday, and Mahal Pearce of New Zealand with Scotland's Paul Lawrie a shot further back in sixth place.

Stenson had held onto top spot by one stroke after completing two rounds of the rainhit BMW Asian Open early on Saturday. He was left with a birdie putt on the 18th on Friday before lightning and rain forced play to be suspended. Returning to the 18th under overcast conditions, the Swede missed a birdie putt from about 10 feet and settled for par to complete a level par 72.