HONG KONG, Oct 18, 2012 - Richardson, 44, fired six birdies against a lone bogey for a 65 at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club to open up a five-shot lead at the top of the leader board with only 18 holes to play.
The Kent-based Richardson, a former winner of the prestigious West of England stroke play title, lies on a three-day total of 213 and is in pole position to earn a coveted invitation to next month's UBS Hong Kong Open, the reward for this year's champion.
Chinese Taipei's Liu Yu Jui (218) holds second place, while local favourite Shinichi Mizuno lies in a share of third spot, a further two strokes off the pace, alongside Fiji's Vikrant Chandra. Alastair Hall, the overnight leader, slumped to an 80.
Third Round Leaderboard
213 - Edward Richardson (United Kingdom) 73 75 65
218 - Liu Yu Jui (Chinese Taipei) 73 73 72
220 - Shinichi Mizuno (Hong Kong) 73 74 73
Vikrant Chandra (Fiji) 71 75 74
221 - Huang Yen Ping (Chinese Taipei) 74 73 74
222 - Takaya Tsuruta (Japan) 75 71 76
224 - Alastair Hall (United Kingdom) 68 76 80
225 - Lai Wei Lun (Chinese Taipei) 72 78 75
226 - Olaf Allen (Fiji) 78 70 78