Challenge Tour report

McLeary and McArthur make their moves in Lyon

From Challenge Tour Press Officer PAUL SYMES

Six birdies apiece saw the Scottish duo of Jamie McLeary and Andrew McArthur play themselves right into contention on day three of the ALLIANZ Golf Open de Lyon on the European Challenge Tour.
A flawless round of 65 moved McLeary into a share of 11th place on eight under par, one shot ahead of McArthur, whose round of 66 contained just the one bogey at the fifth hole. Both men have one Challenge Tour title to their name and have a great chance of doubling their tally, with four players tied for the lead on ten under par.
McLeary, winner of the 2009 Scottish Hydro Challenge, was just happy to return to form after missing the cut in his last two tournaments.

He said: “I made three doubles over the first two days, and with nine holes to play yesterday, I was struggling to make the cut. But I picked up a couple of shots coming home yesterday, then today was even better still and I’m right back in the tournament. If I can shoot another 65 tomorrow, I won’t be too far away from winning the tournament! There are plenty of birdie chances out there, so if I can take my fair share I won’t be too far away. But whatever happens, I’m happy to be finding some form again.”
Joint leader Oscar Floren of Sweden will bid to end his drought on Sunday, but he has Challenge Tour champions Charlie Ford and Thorbjrn Olesen breathing down his neck.
A level par round of 71 for Floren, who is seeking his maiden title since turning professional in 2007, saw the Swede relinquish his overnight advantage, as he was joined on ten under par by Denmark’s Olesen, Austrian Florian Praegant – who shot a stunning round of 64 – and home hope Tony Raillard.
Olesen, who captured his maiden Challenge Tour title at The Princess last week, is bidding to become the first player to claim back-to-back victories this season.
His fellow Challenge Tour debutant Ford, winner of the Turkish Airlines Challenge presented by Carya Golf Club earlier in the season, is in a group of players tied for fifth place on nine under par. Ford opened with a bogey and, despite rallying with birdies at the third and fifth holes, could only manage a level par round of 71.
He said: “I never really got anything going all day. A lot of drives seem to roll just off the fairway and into the semi-rough, and from there you can’t really afford to be too aggressive, because you’re liable to get a flyer. But tomorrow’s another day, and hopefully I can get another win on the board. Obviously I’ll be drawing on my experience in Turkey, and hopefully it’ll stand me in good stead.
“It was quite a similar situation, in that it was a fairly packed leaderboard going into the final round. And obviously Oscar was up there too, so hopefully that’s another good sign. If I can shoot a 63 like he did on the final day, I think there’s probably a fair chance that I’ll win!”
Floren is hoping to turn the tables on Ford tomorrow, when the temperatures at Golf du Gouverneur in Lyon, France, are again expected to top 30 degrees.
He said: “Nothing went right for me on the greens today, but the good news is that I’m still right in contention. Sometimes things don’t go your way out on the course, and today was just one of those days. My only birdies were with two putts at the par fives – none of my other birdie putts even came close to the hole really.
“I would’ve expected to be at least two or three shots off the lead after a 71, so I’m actually pretty pleased I’m still tied at the top. If I can get the putter going again tomorrow, then I’ll have a chance. I’ve already finished second once this season – now I feel ready to win. Hopefully it’ll be my day.”

THIRD-ROUND

Par 216 (3x72)

203 F Praegant (Aut) 71 68 64, O Floren (Swe) 65 67 71, T Raillard (Fra) 70 67 66, T Olesen (Den) 66 69 68,

204 P Dwyer (Eng) 67 66 71, J Sjöholm (Swe) 68 70 66, A Gee (Eng) 71 66 67, I Van Weerelt (Ned) 66 69 69, C Ford (Eng) 68 65 71, J Guerrier (Fra) 68 70 66,

205 A Sjöstrand (Swe) 69 71 65, A Bernadet (Fra) 68 65 72, J Zapata (Arg) 71 67 67, M Zions (Aus) 66 69 70, T Remkes (Ned) 68 66 71, J Arruti (Esp) 67 72 66, B Wiesberger (Aut) 67 67 71, J McLeary (Sco) 70 70 65, M Carlsson (Swe) 67 68 70,

206 M Tullo (Chi) 70 68 68, J Billot (Fra) 70 69 67, L Slattery (Eng) 67 72 67, F Henge (Swe) 73 64 69, A McArthur (Sco) 71 69 66, R Russell (Sco) 71 67 68, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 69 68 69, C Del Moral (Esp) 67 68 71, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 68 71 67,

207 T Feyrsinger (Aut) 66 73 68, A Marshall (Eng) 72 68 67, B Teilleria (Fra) 68 68 71, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 67 70, L Gagli (Ita) 68 67 72, V Riu (Fra) 70 67 70, A Snobeck (Fra) 70 70 67, M Bothma (RSA) 69 70 68, C Suneson (Esp) 69 68 70, S Ottosen (Den) 69 69 69, A Kaleka (Fra) 67 70 70,

208 M Soffietti (Ita) 72 66 70, E Saltman (Sco) 65 74 69, B Mason (Eng) 66 73 69,

209 R Santos (Por) 70 70 69, C Macaulay (Sco) 70 69 70, C Baker (USA) 69 69 71, A Perrino (Ita) 69 69 71,

210 J Grillon (Fra) 70 70 70, J Larsen (Nor) 72 68 70, F De Vries (Ned) 67 71 72, Å Nilsson (Swe) 66 72 72, A Bjork (Swe) 66 70 74, S Jamieson (Sco) 69 69 72,

211 M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 71 69 71, M Higley (Eng) 64 75 72, O David (Fra) 67 72 72, C Russo (Fra) 72 68 71, M Haines (Eng) 69 69 73,

213 W Ormsby (Aus) 68 72 73, M Van Hauwe (Fra) 72 68 73, T Fournier (Fra) 71 69 73, C Moriarty (Irl) 70 70 73, S Davis (Eng) 70 70 73,

215 F Fritsch (Ger) 70 70 75,

216 F Marty (Fra) 68 70 78, S Manley (Wal) 69 70 77