Golf: Kiwis tumble backwards in China

New Zealand drifted from contention at the World Cup of Golf in China yesterday.

David Smail and Danny Lee combined for a two-under-par 70 in the third round of the 28-nation event at Mission Hills in Shenzhen.

Despite being in red figures the New Zealanders tumbled 14 places to 21st after a hot day of scoring.

Smail and Lee did not drop a stroke yesterday as they completed the third round at 11-under 205, 15 shots behind the Irish pairing of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

The Irishmen's overall lead was slashed to just one shot by Italian brothers Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari, who shot the equal best score of 61 in the fourball format.

Sweden were second equal with Italy after posting a 62, while Australia did the same to improve to ninth equal.

- NZPA