WGC-HSBC Champions: Fine finish keeps Tony Finau in front as Justin Rose wilts

Tony Finau will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the WGC-HSBC Champions after a birdie-birdie-birdie finish combined with a late collapse from Justin Rose kept the American in front at the Sheshan International on Saturday.

Finau had started the day with a three-stroke lead after a stunning second round but needed his spectacular finish to clamber back to the top of the leaderboard with a two-under-par 70 after three bogeys had him playing at two-over by the 12th.

He reclaimed one shot at the 13th, commenced his purple patch at the 16th before flirting with a hole-in-one at the par-three 17 and slotting a 10-foot birdie putt at the last to move to 13-under 203 for the tournament.

That put him clear of Xander Schauffele (69), first-round leader Patrick Reed (70) and defending champion Rose, who finished with double bogey-bogey to sign for a 70 after reaching 17th tee at five-under.

"To still have the lead going into tomorrow, I'm pretty fortunate," said American Finau.

"There are 18 more holes to play and it's a world-class field. I've got to keep my head down for 18 more holes and do my thing. I didn't give up today, that's always my mentality - just keep fighting until the end."

Rose, the 2018 FedEx Cup champion, overhauled an eight-shot deficit to win the tournament last year and so will still have a hope of retaining the title and dethroning Brooks Koepka as world number one.

"I've got to go out tomorrow, shoot maybe something in the mid-60s and see if I can chase Tony down," Rose said.

"I'm playing well, feeling good. Just got to put that last couple holes behind me and come out a little bit angry tomorrow."

Englishman Rose would return to the summit he occupied briefly earlier this year if he defends the title and Koepka, who was in a share of 28th after a third-round 71, finishes in a tie for second or worse.

Tommy Fleetwood was another Englishman who probably would prefer to forget his back nine on Saturday after a triple bogey at the 14th dropped him back into the pack.

A Ryder Cup hero for Europe in Paris, Fleetwood finished with a birdie for a 72 and a share of fifth with American Andrew Putnam, who shot a 67 to move to eight-under for the tournament.