World No. 61 Manassero, 18, who is already a twice European Tour winner, fired three birdies and a bogey in his last five holes for a two-under-par 70 and a 36-hole five-under total of 139, behind leader Damien McGrane of Ireland (133).
Play was suspended for almost six hours on Friday due to high winds and more than half the field resumed their second rounds early on Saturday, Briton Robert Rock (145) was among those to miss the cut which ruled out his chances of a Masters debut.
Rock, the world No. 57 who also needed a win to be assured of a place in the field at the Augusta National, was left to curse a costly 11 on the par-four 4th hole during his first round on Thursday.
The top 50 ranked players in the world before the April 5-8 Masters are guaranteed entry, where as an amateur in 2010 aged 16 Italy’s Manassero proved a hit with teenage girls when he became the youngest player to make the cut.
In Jakarta, Australian left-hander Nick Cullen will take a four shot lead into the final round of the $1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open after posting a 67 at the Emeralda Golf Club yesterday.
The unheralded golfer from Adelaide fired an impressive five-under-par third round score to sit on 11 under, enjoying a clear lead over fellow countryman Stephen Leaney in the opening event of the OneAsia season.
Cullen, 27, made six birdies and just one bogey and said his hard work on the practice ground was paying off this week.
“I have been practicing hard and I have put in a lot of hours the last few weeks. As long as I put in the work before I come away for a tournament, I know I am ready.”
Cullen, who turned professional in 2009, said he was happy with his iron play but felt he could be doing more to make his life easier on the greens.
“I think I am giving myself too many downhill putts. It is hard to hole downhill putts as you cannot be aggressive,” he said in comments released by the organizers.
Leaney, who has seven PGA Tour of Australasia titles and four European Tour wins to his name, also shot 67 on Saturday.
The 43-year-old, whose career was curtailed after being diagnosed with vertigo in 2008, had three bogeys and eight birdies — including two in the last four holes — leaving him well placed going into the final round.
American David Oh is a short further back on six under after carding a 71 while David Smail the leader at the halfway stage slipped back to five under after a costly 74 which included two double bogeys.
Indonesia’s top golfer Rory Hie leads the local challenge after carding a 72 to lie one under for the tournament.
Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand is on the same score after returning a 69.
