An Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman lead in Wales with Daren Lee joining Paul McGinley and Paul Lawrie on six under par 138 in the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open.
The home crowd still have plenty to cheer about with the Welsh duo of Jamie Donaldson, winner of the BMW Russian Open on the Challenge Tour last week, and Mark Pilkington lying a shot off the lead on five under par alongside Sweden’s Anders Forsbrand.
After losing the first day’s play to torrential rain, the tournament will now be reduced to 54 holes with 81 players surviving the cut on two over par. It was hoped to play 36 holes on the final day but for logistical reasons Tournament Officials were left with little option but to play only one round on Sunday.
Open Champion Lawrie, chasing his first win since Carnoustie two years ago, had the chance to take the outright lead with a four foot birdie putt on the last, but like so many chances over the first two rounds, the putt stayed above ground.
His round of 71 contained two birdies with just the one shot but at least five putts lipped out as he suffered a second frustrating day on the greens.
“I played fantastic but same as yesterday I didn’t putt very well,” he said. “The putt on the 18th was typical after I hit a lovely pitch to four feet. Dribbled the putt and it caught the left edge and stayed out. It was a bad putting day again.
“The fact I am leading the tournament putted as badly as I could ever putt is nice but even putting a bit iffy I should be 12 under par at least. This week my ball striking has been fantastic.”
McGinley also shot a 71 thanks to a number of saving up and downs to remain tied for the lead. Like Lawrie he picked up just the two birdies with one dropped shot on a course made all the tougher by persistent rain.
“I had chances but also a lot of good up and downs so overall I’ve got to be happy with a 71,” said the Dubliner. “It’s a fair reflection on the way I played. It was a lot tougher today and the rain made it horrible.”
McGinley, currently occupying the tenth and final automatic qualifying place in the Ryder Cup points list knows he cannot defend his position if he is to make the team and play a part at The De Vere Belfry.
“Tomorrow will be an important day’s golf for me but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. There are three more opportunities. It might not be my day tomorrow but I might play great. This game is so unpredictable. I just want to play with the same focus and determination as the last two days and play as hard as I can.”
They were joined at the head of proceedings as darkness fell over a damp Wentwood Hills course by Lee, playing in the second last group, birdied two of the last four holes to move to six under par after a round of 69. It was one of only two rounds in the 60s.
“It was a bit difficult to sustain concentration towards to end,” he said. “To be honest I don’t think we were going to be finished so in the circumstances I did well to birdie two of the last four holes.”
The first of those birdies came as a result of a magnificent three iron to nine feet on the 15th. An eight foot birdie putt on the 17th took him into a share of the lead.
A shot further back Donaldson is already assured of his European Tour card after winning last week’s BMW Russian Open in the Challenge Tour but now, with his confidence running high, has his sights set on a first European Tour title in only his second start.
“Winning on The European Tour is what we all play for,” said the 25 year old. “It changes your life. Winning in Wales would be even more special. I’m looking forward to it.”
Pilkington also shot a 71 to move to five under par thanks to three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine. So far this season Pilkington has finished no higher than 17th in the Novotel Perrier Open de France and is currently lying in 179th in the Volvo Order of Merit.
“I feel I’ve been playing well enough and maybe there is a little break round the corner.”
Forsbrand won the last of his six European Tour titles in 1995 but hard work over the past two years is starting to pay off as he shot the round of the day, a 67 in the worst conditions.
“I’ve played a lot of good golf an have just not putted well,” he said. “Today I holed a few putts. Today was one of those days when you drive it great, hit a lot of great iron shots and give yourself a lot of opportunities.”
