Sweden’s Pierre Fulke takes a three-shot lead into the final round of Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles as he attempts to complete his comeback from injury which kept him out of the game for seven months.
Fulke added a four under par 68 to his course record 63 in the second round over the Monarch’s Coourse to move to 15 under par, three clear of fellow Swede Henrik Nystrom and five clear of Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth.
Fulke claimed his maiden European Tour title last year when he captured the Trophee Lancome but shortly afterwards was struck down by a wrist injury. The problem was eventually diagnosed as referred pain from his neck but he only returned to the game in June.
“To win would be evidence that I am back to where I raised myself after Lancome,” he said. “ It would mean a great deal. I have worked a little bit on my swing it would show that is paying off as well.”
His near faultless 68 in tough, wet conditions after heavy early morning rain, included five birdies, the longest putt of which was from 25 feet on the 16th, and just the one bogey.
“I was in a spot of trouble on three occasions and made two good up and downs,” he added. “Missed to make an up and down on 15 from the greenside trap. But other than that I hit most fairways and all the other greens. I am still pleased with my round – four under on a bit of a murky day I think was pretty good.”
Nystrom similarly dropped only the one shot in his round of 68, equalling the best round of the day, and birdied the last to move within three shots of the lead. Nystrom was last in contention in the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open but slipped back into a share of 12th.
“I learnt a lot from that,” he said. “I learned to stay calm as a lot can happen in 18 holes.”
Like the second round Nystrom failed to hole any putts of length but has been hitting his irons close enough to take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves.
Forsyth on the other hand failed to make the most of his opportunities in a round of 71 but remains in contention to claim his first title in his rookie season. The winner of the Gleneagles Scottish Championship on the neighbouring Queen’s Course, got off to a shaky start with bogeys on the first and fourth with a brace of birdies sandwiched between. But by the fifth the 24-year-old winner of last year’s Qualifying School Finals settled himself and moved within three shots of Fulke after the 14th. But a three putt from 12 feet on the 16th, described by Forsyth as “an absolute shocker” proved costly as Fulke rattled in his birdie putt to pull clear.
“I’m in a bit of a chasing position but am not going to do anything daft,” he said. “There is a chance Pierre could come back. It is a tough course. He shot great numbers so far so maybe he has a bad day up his sleeve.
“Pierre was faultless all day, didn’t do a thing wrong all day. If he plays like that he is going to be very hard to catch but it is still there to be done.”
