Eric Ramsay leads Challenge Tour event by

four strokes with a round to go in Poland

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
Carnoustie's Eric Ramsay will carry a four-stroke lead into the final day of the DHL Wroclaw Open after carding a superb round of 65 on the third day.
Ramsay, who is still searching for his maiden Challenge Tour victory, closed with two birdies at Toya Golf and Country Club in Wroclaw, Poland, to finish on 16 under par.
His playing partner and fellow countryman Scott Jamieson found water on the 15th hole to drop back to 12 under par, level with England’s Andrew Butterfield and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who both shot rounds of 66.
Ramsay, whose previous best finish was tied second in the 2007 Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, said: “It was a good day – I enjoyed playing with Scott. It was quite close with five or six holes left to play, but I had a decent finish which gives me a nice little cushion. But it’s important not to get into a defensive mindset tomorrow – I’ve just got to go out there and play my natural game.
“There are so many birdie opportunities out there, so a four-shot lead can disappear very quickly. I had a three-shot lead after the first day but got caught, so I certainly won’t be taking anything for granted. I’ll just try to relax tonight and get a good night’s sleep, then go out there and just try to do what I’ve been doing. I’m sure I’ll be keeping my eye on the leaderboards – I’d be silly not to.”
Jamieson was unable to replicate the form which saw him shoot a 62 on the second day, but the Scot was still happy to be in contention to land his maiden Challenge Tour title on only his 15th Tour appearance.
Speaking after his one under par round of 69, he said: “It’s always hard to follow up a low round, but I was three up through 14 and then hit a poor tee shot on the 15th which rolled into the water and cost me a double bogey, so that set me back a bit. I had a good chance for birdie at the last but that slid by, so it was a disappointing round but tomorrow’s another day.
"If I can get off to a good start and put some pressure on Eric, then anything can happen. I’m sure I’ll have a few nerves in the morning, but that’s only natural. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t get nervous, but sometimes it can work in your favour.”
With one victory already behind him this season and a European Tour card for next season virtually assured, Butterfield can afford to relax and may be the man to put pressure on Ramsay.
The current Number Two, whose four birdies all came after the turn, said: “I probably played equally well on both nines, but just holed some putts on the back nine – that was the only difference really. I got going with birdies on the 10th and 11th, and after that I was up and running. I feel a lot happier with my game now – I don’t think I lost my confidence as such when I missed those three cuts, but it’s certainly very high now.
“Another 66 would do me very nicely tomorrow. I don’t know if it’ll be enough to win, but I’m just pleased to be playing well again. I can’t go top of the Rankings with a win, but it’d be nice to close the gap on Edoardo [Molinari] and give him a run for his money. But a lot can happen between now and the end of the season, particularly with Kazakhstan coming up. It’ll just be nice to go there in good form.”
Butterfield’s compatriot Steven Tiley is in fifth place on 11 under par after his round of 64, which was the joint lowest of the day; whilst another Englishman, David Griffiths, aced the 14th hole en route to a round of 65 which moved him to nine under par.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
194 E Ramsay (Sco) 61 68 65
198 A Butterfield (Eng) 66 66 66, N Colsaerts (Bel) 68 64 66, S Jamieson (Sco) 67 62 69
199 S Tiley (Eng) 66 69 64
200 M Wiegele (Aut) 68 66 66, C Gane (Eng) 67 67 66, R McEvoy (Eng) 66 66 68, L Gagli (Ita) 67 66 67
201 D Griffiths (Eng) 71 65 65, J Guerrier (Fra) 66 64 71, J Parry (Eng) 67 68 66, B Mason (Eng) 70 67 64, N Smith (USA) 68 65 68
202 R Santos (Por) 66 69 67, J Larsen (Nor) 67 66 69, N Meitinger (Ger) 67 68 67
203 S Surry (Eng) 66 72 65, F Fritsch (Ger) 68 67 68, O Floren (Swe) 71 68 64, C Günther (Ger) 68 68 67, C Moriarty (Irl) 69 67 67, A Bossert (Sui) 69 65 69, J Theunis (Bel) 70 67 66,
204 G Davies (Eng) 67 70 67, A Mellor (Eng) 65 66 73, J Olesen (Den) 69 64 71, T Whitehouse (Eng) 70 66 68, S Saavedra (Arg) 64 70 70, K Sullivan (Wal) 66 69 69
205 M Korhonen (Fin) 68 67 70, C Russo (Fra) 68 68 69, M Mills (Eng) 67 69 69, J Quesne (Fra) 67 70 68, D Wardrop (Eng) 69 67 69, G Boyd (Eng) 66 70 69, R Karlberg (Swe) 65 69 71, A Grenier (Fra) 68 71 66, A McArthur (Sco) 68 68 69
206 G Houston (Wal) 70 68 68, M Laskey (Wal) 71 67 68, A Högberg (Swe) 69 70 67, A Bernadet (Fra) 69 68 69, A Gee (Eng) 71 68 67, C Smith (Wal) 69 68 69, M Reale (Ita) 66 70 70, L De Jager (RSA) 69 68 69
207 B Taylor (Eng) 67 69 71, C Brazillier (Fra) 71 68 68, J Little (Eng) 68 71 68, G Shaw (Nir) 68 67 72
208 V Riu (Fra) 67 67 74, S Henry (Sco) 69 66 73
209 B Parker (Eng) 72 66 71, R Steele (Eng) 69 69 71, P Del Grosso (Arg) 66 73 70, D Marmion (Eng) 72 66 71
210 S Jeppesen (Swe) 73 66 71, P Purhonen (Fin) 68 70 72, J Arruti (Esp) 66 70 74, G Woodman (Eng) 74 65 71
211 D Ulrich (Sui) 69 70 72, A Kaleka (Fra) 70 69 72, P Kaensche (Nor) 70 69 72, R Davies (Wal) 69 70 72
212 C Aguilar (Esp) 66 72 74
213 A Bruschi (Ita) 71 68 74
214 A Hansen (Den) 70 69 75
219 J Elson (Eng) 71 68 80