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Jimenez seeking to become European Tour's oldest winner

updated 12:00 PM EST, Sat November 17, 2012
Miguel Angel Jimenez is seeking to win the Hong Kong Open for the third time and become the European Tour's oldest victor.
Miguel Angel Jimenez is seeking to win the Hong Kong Open for the third time and become the European Tour's oldest victor.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Miguel Angel Jimenez joins Michael Campbell in share of the lead in Hong Kong
  • Jimenez will become European Tour's oldest winner if he clinches victory on Sunday
  • Spaniard, 48, has won the tournament twice before but is two years without a title
  • Former U.S. Open champion Campbell, 43, has not won a tournament since 2005

(CNN) -- Rory McIlroy may have already wrapped up the money list title, but two veteran golfers have much to play for on the final day of the European Tour season's penultimate event in Hong Kong.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, at 48 seeking to become the tour's oldest winner, finished the third round tied for the lead with 43-year-old Michael Campbell -- whose last victory came in 2005, the year he won his only major.

"I love to be in contention. It's been a long time since I've been there," said Jimenez, who has won 11 of his 18 European Tour titles since turning 40 but has not triumphed in more than two years.

Jimenez, who was one of Jose Maria Olazabal's vice-captains in Europe's Ryder Cup victory in September, carded two-under-par 68 to join Campbell on 10-under 200 overall in a tournament he won in 2004 and 2007.

No. 1 McIlroy misses the cut in HK

Irishman Des Smyth was 48 years and 34 days old when he won the Madeira Island Open in 2001, while Jimenez will turn 49 on January 5.

American rookie Charlie Beljan wins the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic just two days after being taking to hospital with an elevated heart rate and numbness in his arm. American rookie Charlie Beljan wins the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic just two days after being taking to hospital with an elevated heart rate and numbness in his arm.
Cinderella story
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Caroline Wozniacki watches boyfriend Rory McIlroy during the continuation of the weather-delayed first round of the Singapore Open.
Caroline Wozniacki watches boyfriend Rory McIlroy during the continuation of the weather-delayed first round of the Singapore Open.
Go Rory!
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Peter Hanson, center, and Francesco Molinari of Europe celebrate their team winning the 39th Ryder Cup on Sunday, September 30, in Medinah, Illinois. Europe produced the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history to defeat the United States and retain the trophy. See more of the best of CNN's photography. Peter Hanson, center, and Francesco Molinari of Europe celebrate their team winning the 39th Ryder Cup on Sunday, September 30, in Medinah, Illinois. Europe produced the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history to defeat the United States and retain the trophy. See more of the best of CNN's photography.
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Photos: Best of Ryder Cup Photos: Best of Ryder Cup

"I like to be in contention on this golf course and you have to have patience and let everything happen," said the Spaniard, who led after a first-round 65.

"That's what's going to happen tomorrow, stay patient because anyone can win."

Campbell is resurrecting his career this year, having fallen out of the top 1,000 rankings at one stage following his breakthrough win at the U.S. Open and subsequent victory at the World Match Play Championship later in 2005.

"Today was sort of scrappy; apart from a couple of drives, it was pretty average really," said the New Zealander, who is now ranked 339th.

He is 83rd in the Race To Dubai standings following a third-place finish in Portugal last month, but outside the top 60 who qualify for the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai.

"I just managed to grind out a score, which is very important with me not playing so well. I turned a 73 into a 69, which is always nice," said Campbell, who led by one shot at the halfway stage while defending champion McIlroy missed the cut.

"Miguel is playing great golf, and he's won this twice before and he's the man to beat."

They have a one-shot lead from young Italian star Matteo Manassero -- who won last weekend in Singapore as McIlroy wrapped up a money list double -- and China's Zhang Lian-wei.

"Last week really made me relax a lot on the golf course, and these three rounds and my position coming into this Sunday is certainly due to and what happened last week - I've got more freedom," said the 19-year-old Manassero, who shot 64 on Saturday to surge up 10 places.

Zhang matched Campbell's 69, but Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed dropped back to fifth on 202 after a 70.

Two more veterans were three shots behind the leaders, with 38-year-old Irishman Peter Lawrie tied with 42-year-old Dane Anders Hansen as both seek to end a wait of more than three years for their second and third respective European Tour titles.

Meanwhile, Sweden's Henrik Stenson took a three-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the SA Open.

The 36-year-old was being chased by South Africa's George Coetzee, who fired nine-under 63 to hold hopes of winning his national title and his first on the European Tour.

Ryder Cup winner Ian Poulter will battle with home hope Adam Scott in the final round of the Australian Masters, as the Englishman held a one-shot lead in his bid to follow up his win at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in China earlier this month.

Former world No. 1 Luke Donald of England took a four-shot lead into Sunday's final 18 holes at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan.

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