Sato aiming to be first Japanese winner on PGA TOUR Series-China

CHONGQING, China - Japan's Taihei Sato remains on track to get a wire-to-wire win at the Chongqing Championship, and with that would come a piece of history as he looks to become the first Japanese player to win on the PGA TOUR Series-China. Sato is in position to do that after a 5-under 68 Saturday secured him a three-shot lead going into the final round of the season-opening event.

Sato merely played one hole at Poly Golf Club before heavy rain and dangerous weather conditions forced officials to suspend play at 10:35 am. Play resumed a little more than three hours later at, 1:45 pm, but the wet conditions had no affect on Sato, who went on to make five birdies and move to 18-under heading into Sunday.

America's David Kocher shot a 68 and lies in solo second, one ahead of China's Yanwei "William" Liu, who fired six birdies in his opening eight holes but cooled off on the back nine to post a 66, the low score of the day.

Sato has a history of playing well here. He tied for sixth at this event last year and continued to play well throughout the year, recording three other top-10s that helped him finish 18th on the Tour's Order of Merit.

Now Sato is in great form again and will head into the final day with plenty of confidence, as the 25-year-old nearly holed out for eagle on the long, 542-yard par-5 18th. Instead, he settled for a closing birdie.

"My last hole was the best. I almost made eagle. I hit two good shots on the fairway and then my third shot, I hit it so close to the hole. Only one or two feet away, and then I made the putt."

The closest a player from Japan has come to winning on this Tour was Yuwa Kosaihira, who finished fourth on last year's Order of Merit. He recorded two runners-up. Sato is looking to bring a win home.

"I didn't know that there was never a Japanese winner. I really want to win now," said Sato. "I think that if I keep playing like I have the last few days and just fix a couple small things, then I might be able to do it."

Also in contention are America's Trevor Sluman (71), who is fourth, at 13-under, one ahead of China's Wenyi Huang (72) and England's Stephen Lewton (69), who is bidding to become the first Englishman to win on this Tour.