Spaniard’s Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jiménez birdied the final hole at Le Meridien Penina to join England’s David Lynn at the top of the leaderboard on 11 under par 205 after the third round of the Algarve Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos.
Lynn, chasing his maiden European Tour triumph, set the target when he eagled the final hole, converting his 18 foot putt after a towering three iron for his second shot, to complete a third round of 66, six under par. The 30 year old looked as if he would hold the outright lead until the two Spaniards got up and down for birdie on the last to match his 54 hole total. No fewer than 20 players lie within three strokes of the leaders.
Garrido, the reigning Volvo PGA Champion, and Jiménez, winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand on The European Tour International Schedule in January, have become accustomed to playing together having partnered each other in both The Seve Trophy and the World Golf Championships – World Cup at the end of last season.
“We are getting used to it,” said Garrido after his round of 69, three under par. “It is always nice to play with a friend and if things start going badly for one the other will try and keep him going. But it can be a disadvantage as it might help one of the players but the other might lose concentration.”
The sentiments were endorsed by Jiménez, who earlier in the week was voted The European Tour Golfer of the Month for January on the strength of his victory in Thailand.
“I like Ignacio but I want to play my game and not worry about things happening around me,” said Jiménez. “But usually I like to play with him as you feel more supportive.”
Both players were unable to repeat the previous day’s birdie bonanza, Jiménez starting with 13 straight pars before finally making a birdie on the 14th. Another birdie on the 18th, where he got up and down after pulling his approach left of the green, completed a two under par 70.
“I didn’t play well for the front nine, missed a couple of fairways and I was just too far from the hole,” Jiménez said. “But it was better once I made the birdie.”
Should he go on to win the €208,330 first prize, Jiménez would climb from fourth to first in the Volvo Order of Merit and also move to the top of The Ryder Cup European Points List. And with 24 World Ranking Points available, Jiménez, who played in the 1999 European Ryder Cup Team, could also go top of The Ryder Cup World Points List, depending on Padraig Harrington’s performance in the BellSouth Classic.
At the start of the week Garrido, who has spent three years rebuilding his swing, was a serious doubt to start in Portugal after cutting the palm of his left hand. Fortunately for the Ryder Cup player, the cut healed and is causing no discomfort. Four birdies and one dropped shot on the par three 13th ensured he would be in the final group.
After opening his third round with a double bogey six, Lynn immediately bounced back with successive birdies and then rolled in three more by the turn for an outward half of 32. His back nine was highlighted by a birdie on the tenth and the final hole eagle.
“I’ve put myself in position again so see what happens tomorrow,” said Lynn, twice a runner-up on The European Tour International Schedule. “I’ve been up there a few times. I like the buzz of it all. You are playing for something. You have to relish these times. Every shot means something.”
Two shots off the leading group after five players on nine under par 207 – Frenchman Gregory Havret (68), Ireland’s Peter Lawrie (70), David Park (66) of Wales, England’s Andrew Raitt (67), and Scot Raymond Russell, whose seven under par 65 equalled the course record set by Brian Davis of England and Phillip Price of Wales in 2000 and matched earlier in the day by Swede Klas Eriksson.
A further 12 players are gathered on eight under par 208 and very much in contention.