A scintillating finish gave Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez the lead in the Algarve Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos and the chance of a fourth European Tour title. Gonzalez finished his third round birdie-eagle to equal the Penina course record of eight under par 64 and move to 13 under 203, a stroke in front of the first and second round leader Paul Broadhurst of England.
Broadhurst, who had also equaled the course record in the first round, by contrast hit trouble three holes from home with a double bogey after his ball finished up behind a fir tree. But he gave himself hope of defending his title by holing a 30ft birdie putt on the last for a 71.
Fellow Englishman Anthony Wall, Swede Jarmo Sandelin and Spain's Carl Suneson are a further stroke back, with Niclas Fasth of Sweden and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel tied in sixth place on ten under 206.
It was the second big finish of the week for Gonzalez, who shot a 66 in the second round at Le Meridien Penina Golf and Resort, giving him hope he can improve on two fourth place finishes earlier this year.
"Really the course shouldn't suit a big-hitter like me because it is more for the shorter hitters and good putters, but I've been playing well for five weeks now," said Gonzalez.
“Yesterday I was on the seventh tee and said to my caddie that I want to finish birdie-birdie. I did that, so today I was on the 17th and I said that I wanted to do the same and I did better with the eagle – that’s not bad! Today I had some different feelings around the course but when I birdied the 17th I started to feel great again.
“I now have a lot of confidence to take into tomorrow as I have been getting better and better every day, so I hope that I can continue that tomorrow.”
Gonzalez, whose power is a sight to behold, made something of a mockery of the 477 yard par five 18th as he thrashed a two iron off the tee and then needed just a seven iron into the green, which he landed just 12 feet from the cup before stroking home his eagle.
For Broadhurst it went the other way. After his double bogey five on the short 16th he bunkered himself on 17 and was relieved to at least salvage something at the end with that brilliant birdie putt on the last.
“I am still in with a chance tomorrow. It’s not over,” said Broadhurst. “Ricardo has had two great scores but he might not do it again tomorrow when he is under the cosh. You never know round this course – anybody could shoot 75, but then again 17 under might be the winning score if someone goes out and plays really well. It’s a tough finish to this course so it’s hard to predict what will win.
“I needed that birdie on the last just for myself, just to keep the head on. I was disappointed the last few holes because I was three clear after 11 holes and I felt that I could get a decent lead, but it is still there for me to win tomorrow and I am still in it. I haven’t done too much damage, even though it felt like it at the time. I am only one behind with 18 holes to play.”
