LAWRIE CHASING FELLOW ABERDONIAN RAMSAY IN EUROPEAN MASTERS

                 RICHIE RAMSAY ... leads Omega European Masters 

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Paul Lawrie will need to overhaul fellow Aberdonian Richie Ramsay if he is to emulate Thomas Björn by recording a notable win double on the European Tour.
Twelve months ago, Björn claimed victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles before securing the Omega European Masters title.
Having triumphed in Scotland last week, Lawrie - together with Danny Willett - now finds himself one shot off the lead heading into the final round at Crans-sur-Sierre.
While Lawrie double bogeyed the 14th and dropped shots on two other holes in an eventful 67 that started with an eagle, Ramsay avoided any mishaps.
He ended the third day on 11 under, having registered three birdies on each nine to card 64 on a day when the par of the course was reduced to 70, with the sixth hole having been converted to a 140 yard par three following heavy overnight rain.
“It was a very good day’s work,” said Ramsay. “A couple more putts would’ve been nice, but other than that I’ve got no complaints at all.
“There were plenty of chances out there, but as always my plan was just to play the golf course, not the other people out there. If someone started making loads of birdies and was running away with the tournament, I would still have just stuck to my plan.”
“I know I play my best when I get into that mindset. I’m just trying to chip away slowly and not make too many bogeys, and today I didn’t make any at all!”
Like Lawrie, Ramsay was also able to take confidence from his performance at Gleneagles, where he finished sixth.
“Yeah, I played nicely last week,” he added. “I’ve just got to stick to the gameplan and try to knock on that door. If the door opens and I get the win, then fantastic. If not, then I’ll try again next week.”
Lawrie is understandably excited by the prospect of potentially following in Björn’s footsteps.
“Your aim every week is to put yourself into a decent position with 18 holes to play, and I’ve managed to do that,” he reasoned.
“At the start of the week I would’ve taken one shot behind going into the final round. If I can go on to emulate the great Dane by getting another win under my belt then I must be a half-decent player!”
Willett, another man to start with a three on the par five first, finished his round of 68 with back to back birdies.
Overnight leader Julien Quesne was two adrift of Ramsay following a topsy-turvy performance; he fired six birdies and as many bogeys after play had been suspended by an hour and 40 minutes due to thick fog.
Mathias Grönberg - the winner of this event way back in 1995 - leapt into a tie for fifth with Jamie Donaldson and Jaco van Zyl courtesy of a 65.
Ramsay’s round, meanwhile, was topped only by Joost Luiten, level par overnight, who eagled the first and 15th in a stunning seven under 63.
David Howell looked set to be in one of the final groups, only to slip back to six under with double bogeys at 16 and 18.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 212 (71-71-70)
201 Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 69 68 64
202 Danny Willett (England) 67 67 68, Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 69 66 67
203 Julien Quesne (France) 68 65 70

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
209 David Drysdale 68 74 67 (T32)
210 Marc Warren 76 66 68 (T45)
211 Colin Montgomerie 72 68 71, Stephen Gallacher 67 71 73 (T54)

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