Paul Casey remains on course for a third victory on The 2003 European Tour International Schedule as he takes a four stroke lead into the final day of the Telefonica Open de Madrid at Club de Campo Madrid in Spain.
On a testing conditions, with heavy rain and a cold northerly wind sweeping across the courses, Casey shot a level par 71, completing his round in shortly before darkness fell, to lie on 14 under par 199. Four birdies on the fourth, ninth, 11th and 14th holes were countered by four bogeys but it was enough to hold the field at arms length.
Casey, the 2001 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, will be aiming to become only the second European Tour Member after Volvo Order of Merit winner Ernie Els to win three times on The 2003 European Tour International Schedule. The Englishman is currently lying in seventh place in the Volvo Order of Merit and has climbed from 104th to 22nd in the world already this season.
Having found success in the ANZ Championship in Sydney and the Benson and Hedges International Open at the De Vere Belfry, Casey will looking to cap his season off in style.
His nearest challengers are the Australians Peter Fowler and Nick O’Hern and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie on ten under par 203 with Swede Marten Olander a further shot back on nine under par.
Four players, including Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez who shot a best of the day 66 to climb from tied 28th to tied sixth, are lying on eight under par.