McDowell's last hole double bogey lets in Singh

By Alastair Himmer

JEJU, South Korea (Reuters) - A wild approach at the 18th hole cost Briton Graeme McDowell the outright lead after the third round of the $2.9 million Ballantine's Championship on Saturday.

A double-bogey six gave the Northern Irishman a six-under 66, leaving him tied with India's Jeev Milkha Singh on 18-under 198 in the first European Tour event to be held in South Korea.

Singh fired a sparkling 64 in calm conditions on the honeymoon island of Jeju following two days of gusting winds.

Ireland's Paul McGinley carded a 67 to claim third position four strokes off the pace at the cliff-top Pinx Golf Club while British Open champion Padraig Harrington was a further two adrift.

Resplendent in a pair of bright pink trousers, McDowell continued his red-hot form as he tore up the front nine in 30 shots.

Four birdies and an eagle on the par-five fourth, where he sank a 20-foot left-to-right putt, put him firmly in the driving seat with only Singh posing a serious threat.

The Indian rattled off five successive birdies from the seventh and kept the pressure on McDowell as the two men went toe to toe in an absorbing duel.

McDowell claimed further birdies at 12 and 16 before overcooking his approach to the 18th and having to drop for a penalty stroke after finding a lateral hazard.