Richie Ramsay leads by one in
Ireland with one round to go

From Steve Todd, Challenge Tour Press
Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay has a one-stroke lead over a trio of players with European Tour experience going into the final round of the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson.
Overnight leader Ramsay recovered after three bogeys and just one birdie in the first 10 holes to pick up shots on the 13th and 17th for a level par round of 72 at Glasson Golf Hotel and Country club, Athlone.
That was enough to ensure the former US amateur and Irish open amateur stroke-play champion tops the leaderboard going into the final round of a tournament for the first time as a professional but the 25 year old has the experienced trio of Richard Bland, Peter Gustafsson and Marcus Higley poised just one shot behind him.
Ramsay, now in his second season as a pro, has three top 10 finishes so far on the European Challenge Tour. He said he was looking forward to testing himself against his more seasoned opponents in the final two pairings.
“It’s good to go out there knowing you are up against these good players as I love a challenge,” said Richie. “I’m always willing to face a challenge head on and a lot of the time I’ve been successful at it because of my decision making and playing good golf. Someone has to win the tournament and why can’t it be me? But I’ve got to take one step at a time.
“I love playing under pressure. Everyone spends hours practiaing for it. The US Amateur was great. There were tons of people and it was a beautiful day and I went out there and played lovely. I know that I’ve done it before there and I did it today so there’s no reason I can’t go out there and do it tomorrow.”
He added: “The tournament isn’t over but I’ll always look back on this day as the first time that I’ve been leader after the third day. I went out and played some solid golf. Okay, I missed some putts but I played really nice today. I was calm on the course and I picked my shots and I’m still leading.”
Playing partner Bland, from England, also shot a level par round of 72 to stay on seven under par but Swede Gustafsson and Englishman Higley produced masterful back nines to card six under par rounds of 66.
David Drysdale is a second Scot not without a chance of success on Sunday. He is in fifth place on his own on six-under 210, only two shots behind Ramsay after rounds of 67, 74 and 69.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
208 R Ramsay (Sco) 66 70 72.
209 R Bland (Eng) 68 69 72, P Gustafsson (Swe) 75 68 66, M Higley (Eng) 71 72 66.
210 D Drysdale (Sco) 67 74 69.
211 C Moriarty (Irl) 67 70 74, D Wardrop (Eng) 68 72 71; J Blixt (Swe) 70 75 66;
212 S Thornton (Irl) 71 73 68, C Del Moral (Esp) 70 71 71;
213 A Tampion (Aus) 71 71 71; R Rock (Eng) 73 71 69; T Milford (Eng) 69 72 72; S Jeppesen (Swe) 67 73 73; G Shaw (Nir) (am) 69 71 73;
214 C Lee (Sco) 67 72 75; M Smith (Eng) 70 72 72; A Gee (Eng) 67 73 74; L Gagli (Ita) 72 72 70; M Haastrup (Den) 69 72 73; E Goya (Arg) 65 75 74; D Marmion (Eng) 72 71 71; J Kehoe (Irl) 71 71 72; M McDermott (Irl) 64 75 75; O David (Fra) 71 73 70.
215 W Besseling (Ned) 67 74 74; M Tullo (Chi) 72 71 72; D Park (Wal) 71 71 73; A McArthur (Sco) 72 71 72; R McEvoy (Eng) 71 73 71; I Garbutt (Eng) 74 70 71.;
216 T Cruz (Por) 67 72 77; G Davies (Eng) 70 75 71; R De Sousa (Si) 69 74 73; A Butterfield (Eng) 69 74 73; R Davies (Wal) 70 75 71; G Maybin (Nir) 70 73 73; G Lockerbie (Eng) 69 75 72; G Murray (Sco) 71 74 71; B McCarroll (Irl) 74 71 71.
217 T Dykes (Wal) 70 74 73; R Coles (Eng) 68 74 75; D Higgins (Irl) 66 74 77; G Bowden (Irl) 72 73 72; M Pilkington (Wal) 71 74 72; D Carter (Eng) 74 68 75; S Henderson (Sco) 68 75 74;
218 B Miarka (Ger) 72 73 73; A Willey (Eng) 72 73 73; S Juul (Den) 74 70 74; M King (Eng) 72 73 73; M Zions (Aus) 70 72 76.
219 P Nilbrink (Nor) 72 73 74; R Steiner (Aut) 72 73 74; R Kakko (Fin) 73 71 75; C Smith (Wal) 72 71 76; I Van Weerelt (Ned) 70 72 77; S Davis (Eng) 67 77 75; A Rocha (Bra) 70 74 75; J Clément (Sui) 71 74 74; L James (Eng) 71 73 75;
220 B Grace (RSA) 71 74 75; E Ramsay (Sco) 72 73 75; A Bernadet (Fra) 69 73 78; K Sullivan (Wal) 72 72 76; A Snobeck (Fra) 69 74 77; D Horsey (Eng) 69 75 76; B Evans (Eng) 71 73 76;
221 P Streeter (Eng) 72 73 76; P O'Keeffe (Irl) 72 71 78; J Ruebotham (Eng) 67 74 80;