Darren Clarke and Raphaël Jacquelin, two men with a rich recent history in the Compass Group English Open, will share pole position going into the last round of the 2002 tournament at the Marriott Forest of Arden.
Ulsterman Clarke, the winner in 1999 and 2000, carded a third round 68 for a 13 under par total of 203 to join Jacquelin, who finished runner-up last year, the Frenchman having booked his place at the top of the leaderboard with a rollercoaster 65.
The duo finished one shot clear of Denmark’s Søren Hansen and local Midlands favourite Steve Webster while two other Englishmen, Justin Rose and Sam Walker, were one shot further adrift on 11 under par 205.
Clarke, trying to become the first player to win the Compass Group English Open title three times, appeared set to lead on his own after a flawless first 16 holes, the highlight coming at the 12th where a five iron to three and a half feet set up a superb eagle three.
A birdie three at the next hole gave him the lead outright at 14 under par but a poor drive and an errant approach shot at the 17th paved the way for a bogey six which brought him back alongside Jacquelin.
“That was a little bit disappointing because the 17th was the only poor tee shot I had hit all day,” said Clarke. “Hopefully I will be leading on my own tomorrow and not sharing the lead but there are a lot of very good players out here.
“I have been hitting the ball well for some time now but haven’t been able to turn it into the scores. I am now starting to do that though. Sometimes it clicks and sometimes it doesn’t, but as soon as it clicks into place, I am off and running.”
If Clarke’s finish was a trifle erratic, it was nothing compared to the entire round of co-leader Jacquelin, who featured ten birdies and three bogeys in his 65, his lowest round of the 2002 European Tour season.
“It was a very strange day because I didn’t drive as well as I did on Thursday or Friday, I missed a few fairways but the putter was very hot,” he said. “I think I made 24 putts which is pretty good putting statistics for me. I enjoyed it though. I was a bit surprised about how well I putted but I suppose that’s the way to do it.
“It was a bit of fun but that’s what we all need out there. I tried my best and made a lot of birdies and if I can play the same tomorrow, especially the way I did on most of the par fives, then I have a chance.”
One shot behind the leading duo, Søren Hansen produced the round of the tournament, six birdies and an eagle three at the 547 yard 12th , where he pitched in from 15 feet off the green, giving him a 64 and an excellent chance of emulating his good friend and fellow countryman Anders Hansen, who won the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Club two weeks ago.
“We are friends, we have grown up together, so his win had a huge impact on me because Anders and I have always been side by side, year in year out,” he said. “I remember one year I made a hole in one and he had one the week after. We always seemed to finish around the same place in the Order of Merit and had the same kind of results. So when he won the Volvo it gave me a kick because if he can do it, I can do it.
“I played well last week, just missed out a little bit in the last round and this week is just the same so far. I am on the right path, it is just a matter of time really and I think the more I am there the sooner it will happen and then I think it will happen on a regular basis.”
Alongside Hansen, Steve Webster gave himself the opportunity for his maiden European Tour success, after having finished second four times, with a flawless third round 65 and admitted he had been helped along by a large contingent of friends in the gallery.
“I think I had about 80 family and friends out there today,” he said. “They always come to the tournaments in England and are great supporters. If I play like that tomorrow I can go close and give myself a chance. I am putting nicely and driving well, so we will just have to see how it goes.”
One man who has had no problems crossing the winning line this year has been Justin Rose and the 21 year old’s third round 68, his sixth round in a row in the 60s, gave himself an excellent chance of his fifth win worldwide this year and his second in a row following his success in last week’s Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn.
Then, he started the final round three shots adrift of the lead, at the Marriott Forest of Arden he will start only two behind and he admitted it was a position he enjoyed.
“It is a nice position to be in,” he said. “You are kind of snuck in behind, nobody is expecting anything from you and therefore you can go out and be aggressive and hopefully creep up the leaderboard.”
Rose’s quiet afternoon was ignited by an eagle three at the 17th where he holed from ten feet, an achievement matched by Sam Walker, who is attached to the Marriott Forest of Arden, and whose 66 saw him move alongside Rose in a tie for fifth.
