LEVY CHARGES INTO LEAD AT KAZAKHSTAN

      

 

REPORT FROM NEIL AHERN

Challenge Tour Press Officer

Alexander Levy took one step closer to the biggest victory of his career as the Frenchman charged into a two shot lead on the third day of the Kazakhstan Open thanks to a seven under par round of 65, which included an incredible run of six consecutive birdies.

That moved Levy to 18 under par, ahead of Scott Henry who was in turn two shots clear of former World Amateur Number One Peter Uihlein and Denmark’s Andreas Hartø in tied third place at Zhailjau Golf Resort in Almaty.

Levy had history with his playing partner Uihlein prior to this week’s European Challenge Tour ‘Major’, having rolled in a 50 foot putt on the way to beating the American and his team-mates to the 2010 World Amateur Team Championships in Argentina.

Maybe it was the memories of that French victory - alongside Romain Wattel, amongst others - that propelled him, because Levy’s putter was on fire all day. He did start relatively slowly, however, clearing the first eight holes in level par thanks to a birdie at the third and a bogey on the fifth.

It was just before the turn that the 22 year old’s round really took off as a birdie at the par four ninth started a streak of six consecutive birdies to launch the American-born Frenchman clear of his playing partners Henry and Uihlein.

“It was crazy,” he said, “I just kept holing putts. I've never had six birdies in a row in my life. It was not adrenaline, I was just playing every shot as it came but I putted well so it was really nice to play like that.”

Levy wasn’t finished yet and he birdied the 16^th, after a rare par at the par five 15^th, to boost his hopes of a win that would go a long way towards securing him a European Tour card for the 2013 season.

“It was a great day today,” he said. “I played really good and I'm happy that I continued to play well after a good opening two days. I didn’t make any mistakes.

“I hope tomorrow I can do the same as I did today. It’s my first time in contention but I know what I need to do in this position. It’s going to be fun playing in the last group again, Scott is a really good guy so it will be good.”

Henry stayed in the hunt going into the final day after the Scotsman signed for a second consecutive five under par 67 to move to 16 under. It was his first round of the week without a single bogey and the former Jacques Léglise Trophy Captain is thoroughly looking forward to competing for the title on Sunday.

“I played well from about the fifth hole onwards,” said the 25 year old. “I hit a lot of good shots and holed a few putts around the turn. It was good to get those putts because I knew people were scoring well.

“I was pleased with the way I played. I holed a good six or seven foot par putt at 16 so that was important. You make a bogey out there when everyone’s making birdies and it’s almost like a double-bogey.

“I’m happy to be in the mix and five under is a good score anywhere. Alexander got on fire for a spell and played well so it was good fun, we all enjoyed it and it was actually quite relaxed.

“I’m sure somebody is going to score a low round tomorrow so I just need to keep pressing for birdies. I don’t want to be silly attacking every pin, I’ll just try and do the same tomorrow and hopefully hole a few putts.”

Uihlein was two shots further back in tied third after a three under par round of 69 elevated him to 14 under, alongside Denmark’s Andreas Hartø, who carded three eagles in the front nine of his eight under par round of 64.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)

198 A Levy (Fra) 66 67 65,

200 S Henry  (Sco) 66 67 67,

202 A Hartø  (Den) 68 70 64, P Uihlein  (USA) 63 70 69,

203 G Lockerbie  (Eng) 67 68 68, M Haastrup  (Den) 67 69 67, J McLeary  (Sco) 71 66 66,

204 E De La Riva  (Esp) 68 68 68, L Jensen (Den) 65 72 67, S Benson (Eng) 65 69 70, W Besseling  (Ned) 67 74 63, S Pinckney (USA) 66 73 65, J Senior (Eng) 70 69 65,

205 A Snobeck  (Fra) 68 71 66, A Tadini (Ita) 69 68 68, M Madsen  (Den) 70 69 66, C Paisley  (Eng) 68 69 68, A Kaleka  (Fra) 68 68 69, H Bacher (Aut) 67 67 71, P Oriol (Esp) 68 69 68, R Kakko  (Fin) 69 69 67, C Doak (Sco) 69 69 67, J Walters (RSA) 68 71 66, A McArthur  (Sco) 70 66 69,

206 J Busby (Eng) 67 70 69, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 71 65 70,

207 J Hansen  (Den) 70 67 70, L Claverie (Esp) 68 70 69, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 69 71 67, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 68 70, P Edberg (Swe) 68 68 71, B Parker  (Eng) 71 66 70,

208 J Lima  (Por) 67 71 70, J Parry (Eng) 68 70 70, P Dwyer (Eng) 68 67 73, A Bernadet  (Fra) 67 72 69, N Dougherty  (Eng) 70 66 72, M Carlsson  (Swe) 70 69 69, J Doherty  (Sco) 69 68 71, B An (Kor) 68 69 71, N Lemke (Swe) 69 71 68,

209 M Glauert (Ger) 69 72 68, R Steiner (Aut) 70 71 68, S O'Hara  (Sco) 71 69 69, M Tullo (Chi) 73 68 68, R Saxton (Ned) 72 69 68,

210 C Ford (Eng) 70 70 70, F De Vries  (Ned) 70 68 72, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 69 71, N Meitinger  (Ger) 72 67 71, R Wingardh (Swe) 69 71 70, M Delpodio  (Ita) 71 66 73, T Whitehouse  (Eng) 69 72 69, L Saltman (Sco) 71 68 71, E Kofstad (Nor) 72 69 69,

211 D Vancsik (Arg) 68 72 71, C Macaulay  (Sco) 70 69 72, Å Nilsson (Swe) 71 69 71, J Huldahl (Den) 70 71 70,

212 P Baker (Eng) 69 69 74, C Hanson (Eng) 69 72 71,

213 J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 71 70 72, M Nixon (Eng) 70 70 73, G Houston (Wal) 70 71 72, J Abbott (Eng) 68 69 76, P Relecom  (Bel) 72 69 72,

214 R McGowan  (Eng) 69 72 73, C Gane (Eng) 69 69 76, K Eriksson (Swe) 70 71 73, J Mommo  (Fin) 75 66 73, C Russo (Fra) 69 72 73,

216 A Hansen  (Den) 71 70 75,

219 A Ahokas (Fin) 70 69 80,