Adam Scott, who doesn’t take possession of the key to the door until his 21st birthday next month, unlocked the secret of the Marriott Forest of Arden for the third day running as he compiled a five under par 67 to take a two stroke lead into the final round of the Compass Group English Open.
Scott, mild and self-effacing off the course but a ruthless competitor on it, goes into the last day on 204, 12 under par. He will tee up in the final group with Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin, who aims to follow in the footsteps of his countryman Thomas Levet, last week’s Victor Chandler British Masters champion.
Jacquelin fired a magnificent round of 66 for a total of 206 and a share of second place alongside South African Jean Hugo, who shot 68 on a day when the sun peered out and scoring was correspondingly lower.
Scott, winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa at the start of the season, bagged five birdies and holed a 30 foot eagle putt on the 17th in a bid to break clear from playing partner, Hugo, and Jacquelin.
They, in turn, are three ahead of a trio of players in Australian Peter O’Malley, Marco Bernardini of Italy and England’s Justin Rose, who bogeyed the last hole for a 70 and a seven under par total of 209.
Scott admitted: “I didn’t really think about how many shots I was leading by, but I’m pretty happy with that. I played a bad shot at the last from the bunker, but it’s a tough hole.”
The young Australian is enjoying his run of tournaments on The European Tour and added that he is in no hurry to try his luck in the United States. He said: “I find myself much more relaxed and comfortable in this environment over here and that is probably why I play better.
“I think it’s friendlier here, absolutely. I think that is why I feel more comfortable because to be 20 year olds and travelling around in a game without too many 20 year olds it’s hard to be accepted but everyone has been very kind to me. It’s not necessarily easier to win here – the competition at the top level is the same.”
Jacquelin, who has finished third twice in the past, relied on another back nine salvo for sweeping into a share of second place. In three rounds to date his inward halves have been 35, 34 and now 32. He commented: “I was just thinking how good it would be to follow Thomas.
“That was a great victory and great for French golf. I play with him every Tuesday in practice and I suppose it makes you think: ‘If he can do it, why can’t I?’ It gives us all more confidence.”
Hugo, with a second successive 68, loved the experience of going head to head with Scott. A Challenge Tour graduate in 2000, the powerful South African is poised to secure his card for 2002 with a high finish in the last round.
There were some impressive forward moves in the third round. Retief Goosen found his putting stroke and carded a 65 for 211 while his playing partner, defending champion Darren Clarke, fed off the South African’s birdies and managed a 67 for 213. Lee Westwood, meanwhile, carded a 68 for 212 – eight behind Scott and perhaps just too far back to trouble the leader.
The Marriott Forest of Arden’s local touring professional, John Bickerton, thrilled the locals by grabbing eight birdies and an eagle in a round of 64 which missed the course record by a stroke but elevated him from last place overnight into a tie for 11th.
