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Wattel on song at Gleneagles
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Wattel on song at Gleneagles

France’s Romain Wattel carded a blistering 63 to claim the clubhouse lead during the third round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Romain Wattel

Wattel, only joint 31st overnight, had six birdies in eight holes to turn in 31 and then birdied three of the last five as well to reach 11 under par.

The round matched the course record set by Swede Pierre Fulke 12 years ago, but will not be listed alongside it because placing of the ball was allowed on the wet fairways.

The 21 year old from Montpellier led by a stroke from Scot Paul Lawrie - already sure of a Ryder Cup return after a 13-year gap - and Australian Brett Rumford.

Another of the home contingent, Stephen Gallacher, was nine under following a 65, while joint fifth were England's Gary Boyd (64) and Dane Thorbjørn Olesen.

Halfway pacesetters Mark Foster and Richard Finch were both having their problems.

Foster played the first eight in one over, Finch in three over after losing a ball off the eighth tee led to a double bogey six.

Nicolas Colsaerts left himself a mountain to climb today if he was to claim an automatic place in Europe's Ryder Cup side.

Needing a top two finish in the final counting event, the 29 year old Belgian was down in a tie for 20th spot after ten holes of his third round.

Colsaerts followed birdies at the opening two holes with bogeys on the fourth, eighth and tenth.

Failing to come first or second would leave Europe's biggest-hitter requiring a wild card from Captain José María Olazábal on Monday.

Lawrie joined Wattel out in front when he birdied the 11th and 13th and they were two clear of Gallacher as Rumford crashed to a triple bogey at the 13th.


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