DE LA RIVA MAINTAINS ONE-STROKE LEAD IN ANDALUCIA OPEN
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Eduardo De La Riva retained his slender one shot advantage after the third round of the Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol with a 68 that left the Spaniard 12 under par.
Plenty of challengers came and went on Moving Day, but it was 29 year old De La Riva – who secured his place in the field via the Spanish Order of Merit – that claimed an advantage going into the final round.
England’s former BMW PGA Championship winner Simon Khan and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, the first-round leader, are a shot behind on 11 under par.
It was a great display of control from De La Riva, who carded six birdies and two bogeys, and he now has a good chance to better his previous best finish of third on The European Tour at October’s Bankia Madrid Masters.
After birdieing the first from six feet, De La Riva – whose father was Spanish amateur champion seven times and mother won the Spanish junior title on three occasions - bogeyed the next but birdied the third and seventh from 12 feet to turn in 35.
Having been deposed at the head of affairs by that stage, the World Number 610 responded with an inward 33, pitching to three feet at the 14th and knocking in a six foot birdie putt at the 16th.
Manassero responded well to losing his three shot first-day advantage, a 25 foot putt at the 12th and a wedge approach to within two feet at the 14th the highlights of his five birdies.
“I played a better golf from tee to green,” said Manassero – who became The European Tour’s youngest-ever winner in Spain two years ago.
“I made quite an easy 68, if you can say that. It could have easily been a 67 with a five on 16 (his only bogey), which is routine.
“Today I played even better than the first day from tee to green and gave myself many chances. My only bad moment was three-putting 16, which pushed me back nearly two shots. The rest was all good.”
“It’s good to be up there and give me some chances tomorrow. This course is good for me, I like it, but there are many guys up there, so it's going to be fun tomorrow and I'm happy to be in it.”
Khan was another to finish well, he holed a 40 foot birdie putt at the 15th and from ten feet at the next en route to a back-nine 31 and six under par 66.
“I played nicely all through the week and if I had taken a couple more chances I would have been further up,” said Khan.
“I had a figure in my mind, and I thought that if I could play steady and pick up the birdies, that score would be possible.
“Last year’s French Open was the last time I was in position to win - hopefully it'll all come flooding back. I've had times like this before when I haven't been up there consistently and I managed to have good weekends. I'm going to enjoy it tomorrow and rely on my game."
England's David Lynn and South African Hennie Otto are another stroke back on ten under, as is local favourite and tournament promoter Miguel Angel Jiménez.
The 48 year old is trying to become the oldest winner in European Tour history on the course where he is an honorary member and added a 69 to previous rounds of 69 and 68, thanks largely to a strong finish.
After birdies at the 14th and 15th Jimenez produced one of the shots of the day at the 16th, sending a fairway wood up and over the trees and to within five feet before sinking his eagle putt.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
204 Eduardo De La Riva (Spain) 67 69 68
205 Simon Khan (England) 70 68 66, Matteo Manassero (Italy) 64 73 68.
206 David Lynn (England) 70 68 68, Hennie Otto (S Africa) 67 71 68
207 Philip Price (Wales) 69 72 66, Darren Fichgardt (S Africa) 69 71 67, Marcel Siem (Germany) 9 71 67, Julie Quesne (France) 68 72 67, Raphael Jacquelin (France) 70 68 69.
SCOTS' SCORES
212 Alastair Forsyth 71 70 71 (T39)
214 Marc Warren 74 70 70, Gary Orr 71 73 70, Richie Ramsay 72 71 71 (T51)
215 George Murray 72 72 71, David Drysdale 71 71 73, Stephen Gallacher 75 69 71 (T60).
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Eduardo De La Riva retained his slender one shot advantage after the third round of the Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol with a 68 that left the Spaniard 12 under par.
Plenty of challengers came and went on Moving Day, but it was 29 year old De La Riva – who secured his place in the field via the Spanish Order of Merit – that claimed an advantage going into the final round.
England’s former BMW PGA Championship winner Simon Khan and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, the first-round leader, are a shot behind on 11 under par.
It was a great display of control from De La Riva, who carded six birdies and two bogeys, and he now has a good chance to better his previous best finish of third on The European Tour at October’s Bankia Madrid Masters.
After birdieing the first from six feet, De La Riva – whose father was Spanish amateur champion seven times and mother won the Spanish junior title on three occasions - bogeyed the next but birdied the third and seventh from 12 feet to turn in 35.
Having been deposed at the head of affairs by that stage, the World Number 610 responded with an inward 33, pitching to three feet at the 14th and knocking in a six foot birdie putt at the 16th.
Manassero responded well to losing his three shot first-day advantage, a 25 foot putt at the 12th and a wedge approach to within two feet at the 14th the highlights of his five birdies.
“I played a better golf from tee to green,” said Manassero – who became The European Tour’s youngest-ever winner in Spain two years ago.
“I made quite an easy 68, if you can say that. It could have easily been a 67 with a five on 16 (his only bogey), which is routine.
“Today I played even better than the first day from tee to green and gave myself many chances. My only bad moment was three-putting 16, which pushed me back nearly two shots. The rest was all good.”
“It’s good to be up there and give me some chances tomorrow. This course is good for me, I like it, but there are many guys up there, so it's going to be fun tomorrow and I'm happy to be in it.”
Khan was another to finish well, he holed a 40 foot birdie putt at the 15th and from ten feet at the next en route to a back-nine 31 and six under par 66.
“I played nicely all through the week and if I had taken a couple more chances I would have been further up,” said Khan.
“I had a figure in my mind, and I thought that if I could play steady and pick up the birdies, that score would be possible.
“Last year’s French Open was the last time I was in position to win - hopefully it'll all come flooding back. I've had times like this before when I haven't been up there consistently and I managed to have good weekends. I'm going to enjoy it tomorrow and rely on my game."
England's David Lynn and South African Hennie Otto are another stroke back on ten under, as is local favourite and tournament promoter Miguel Angel Jiménez.
The 48 year old is trying to become the oldest winner in European Tour history on the course where he is an honorary member and added a 69 to previous rounds of 69 and 68, thanks largely to a strong finish.
After birdies at the 14th and 15th Jimenez produced one of the shots of the day at the 16th, sending a fairway wood up and over the trees and to within five feet before sinking his eagle putt.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
204 Eduardo De La Riva (Spain) 67 69 68
205 Simon Khan (England) 70 68 66, Matteo Manassero (Italy) 64 73 68.
206 David Lynn (England) 70 68 68, Hennie Otto (S Africa) 67 71 68
207 Philip Price (Wales) 69 72 66, Darren Fichgardt (S Africa) 69 71 67, Marcel Siem (Germany) 9 71 67, Julie Quesne (France) 68 72 67, Raphael Jacquelin (France) 70 68 69.
SCOTS' SCORES
212 Alastair Forsyth 71 70 71 (T39)
214 Marc Warren 74 70 70, Gary Orr 71 73 70, Richie Ramsay 72 71 71 (T51)
215 George Murray 72 72 71, David Drysdale 71 71 73, Stephen Gallacher 75 69 71 (T60).
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, March 17, 2012
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