ENGLISH PAIR LEAD CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

Leader McLeary slumps to joint 19th in Turkey

FROM THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR WEBSITE
The English duo of Stuart Davis and Charlie Ford will carry a slender lead into the final day of the Turkish Airlines Challenge hosted by Carya Golf Club, with both bidding to capture their maiden Challenge Tour titles. Overnight leader Jamie McLeary from Scotland had a day to forget. He dropped to joint 19th position with a 77 for 213.
Ford, who has new caddy James on his bag for the first time this week, celebrated his 25th birthday with a stunning round of 66 at Carya Golf Club in Belek, Antalya Turkey, to surge to the head of affairs on nine under par. He was later joined on that mark by his more experienced compatriot Davis, who is seeking to shrug off his bridesmaid tag after three runner-up finishes in his Challenge Tour career.
Ford, who had looked on course to secure a European Tour card at the 2009 Qualifying School before going into reverse over the final two rounds, compiled a solid rather than spectacular opening nine, as he reached the turn in 35.
But his round exploded into life on the back nine with five birdies, with the highlights coming at the 11th hole, where he sunk a 35 feet putt, and the demanding 17th, where he put his approach shot to within a foot.
Ford, embarking on his maiden Challenge Tour campaign after attending Tennessee State University in America, said: “I made some good par saves from eight or ten feet on the front nine, which kept me chugging along. Then after that long putt dropped on the 11th, I didn’t really hit a poor shot. My playing partner [Charles-Edouard Russo] also played really well, so we were just really feeding off each other. Often when you see other people making birdies, it inspires you to raise your game.
“There’ll probably be a few nerves on the last day, but that’s a good thing because it means you’re in there and challenging for the lead. If I play as solidly as I have done over the past two rounds, you never know. It’s my first season on the Challenge Tour, so it’s still a learning process for me.
"Obviously I was disappointed with what went on at Q School but in a funny way it might’ve been a blessing in disguise. I only turned pro just before Q School, so it might’ve been too much too soon. This way I can get a full season on the Challenge Tour under my belt, and then hopefully get onto the main Tour next season.”
Davis has already experienced life on The European Tour, having finished 20th in the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2008 thanks largely to his runner-up finish at the money-spinning Kazakhstan Open.
He has returned to the Challenge Tour after struggling for consistency on the top tier last term, but showed signs of rediscovering his touch with five birdies in a flawless round of 67. Davies said:
“Funnily enough I probably didn’t play as well today as I did yesterday, but the putts started to drop which made all the difference. The first two days was the best I’ve played from tee to green for a long time, so I was a bit disappointed not to be in a better position.
"But I found something on the putting green this morning, and it served me well. I didn’t sink any really long putts, but I was holing out really well – I probably only missed one makeable putt.
"If I putt as well again tomorrow, then I’ll have every chance. I’ve obviously been in this position before, so hopefully I can draw on that experience and finish the job off this time.”
Third place is shared by Dutchman Wil Besseling and Frenchman Russo, who carded respective rounds of 66 and 67 to move to eight under par.
Besseling’s round would have been even better had his approach to the 18th hole not been hindered by a tree in the middle of the fairway, but the Dutchman – who is trying to regain his European Tour playing credentials after missing out at the 2009 Qualifying School Final Stage by just one stroke – preferred to dwell on the positives.
He said: “That was probably my best round for the last couple of years, so I’m very satisfied. If anything today was probably the toughest day because the wind got up a little bit, so that makes it even more pleasing.
"I’m now probably playing better than I did when I was when I was last on the Challenge Tour two years ago, so hopefully I can get the rewards for it.”
Besseling has one Challenge Tour title to his name but Russo, who shot a round of 67, is seeking his maiden win. The Frenchman picked up two shots on the front nine and added another four after the turn to join Besseling in a tie for third place, with England’s Benn Barham, Denmark’s Lasse Jensen and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger one shot back in a share of fifth on seven under par.
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) 7178yd
207 Charlie Ford (England) 73 68 66, Stuart Davis (England) 72 68 67.
208 Charles-Edouard Russo (France) 71 70 677, Will Besseling (Netherlands) 72 70 66.
209 Lasse Jensen (Denmark) 68 70 71, Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) 69 70 70, Benn Barham (England) 69 71 69.
Selected scores:
211 Colm Moriarty (Ireland) 70 70 71 (jt 10th).
212 Raymond Russell (Scotland) 66 73 73, Lee Slattery (England) 72 68 72. (jt 14th).
213 Jamie McLeary (Scotland) 69 67 77., Steve Lewton (England) 70 74 69, Oliver Whiteley (England) 71 71 71 (jt 19th).
Other Scots' scores:
214 George Murray (Scotland) 70 71 73 (jt 24th).
216 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 72 71 73 (jt 45th).