DUTCHMAN LUITEN CRUISES INTO THREE-SHOT LEAD IN AUSTRIA

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Joost Luiten will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity after a majestic back nine led to a five under par 67.

The 27 year old Dutchman was two over after five holes, but battled back to level par by the turn before racking up five birdies on the way home to reach 16 under for the tournament at Diamond Country Club in Austria. 

Spaniards Jorge Campillo and Eduardo De La Riva are Luiten’s closest challengers, the former signing for a 66 and the latter birdieing the last for a 69, while Dane Thomas Björn had a sizzling 64 to move to 11 under alongside Frenchman Romain Wattel (69).

“It’s easy if you play like I did on the back nine, but the first fives holes were tough,” said Luiten, whose sole European Tour title came at the 2011 Iskandar Johor Open.

 “Once I settled down a bit I started to play better, hit some good shots and make some putts.

“It was good to get some birdies back after that start. There are some tricky holes out there, but my irons felt good so I went at some pins. 

“It’s always good to have a lead in the last round, but tomorrow is a new day and I’ll have to try to play good golf again.

“I’d prefer to be leading than to be behind. I don’t mind playing with the lead. You still have to focus on your own game and play some good shots, without worrying what the other guys are doing.”

 

THIRD ROUND SCORES

Par 216 (3x72)

200 J Luiten (Ned) 65 68 67

203 E De La Riva  (Esp) 69 65 69, J Campillo (Esp) 70 67 66

205 T Björn (Den) 71 70 64, R Wattel  (Fra) 68 68 69

206 P Waring  (Eng) 67 67 72, M Jiménez (Esp) 67 70 69

207 L Gagli  (Ita) 72 67 68, H Otto (RSA) 71 65 71

208 S Little (Eng) 69 73 66, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 66 70, A Forsyth (Sco) 70 68 70, L Wen-Chong (Chn) 67 72 69, T Lewis (Eng) 63 74 71, M Baldwin (Eng) 71 66 71, G Bourdy (Fra) 70 68 70

209 D Drysdale (Sco) 71 66 72, T Hatton (Eng) 74 69 66, S Dyson  (Eng) 66 74 69, C Macaulay  (Sco) 68 66 75, L Slattery (Eng) 71 68 70, A Levy (Fra) 66 75 68, A Sullivan (Eng) 67 71 71,

210 S Webster (Eng) 68 71 71, S Hansen (Den) 70 72 68, M Lampert (Ger) 69 72 69, E Grillo (Arg) 72 67 71, S Wakefield (Eng) 75 65 70,

211 S Kapur (Ind) 68 72 71, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 73 67, M Carlsson  (Swe) 69 72 70, G Storm  (Eng) 66 74 71, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 68 71 72, M Wiegele  (Aut) 73 71 67, C Lee (Sco) 70 73 68, D McGrane (Irl) 69 72 70, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 74 67 70, C Paisley  (Eng) 69 72 70, G Bhullar (Ind) 72 67 72, M Schwab (am) (Aut) 67 74 70

212 B Dredge (Wal) 71 69 72, M Southgate  (Eng) 73 70 69, M Tullo (Chi) 69 70 73

213 A Snobeck  (Fra) 70 71 72, J Kingston (RSA) 72 69 72, T Levet (Fra) 73 70 70, R McEvoy  (Eng) 66 74 73

214 G Maybin (Nir) 72 68 74, M Nixon (Eng) 69 71 74, O Floren  (Swe) 71 69 74, L Astl (Aut) 71 71 72

215 R Bland (Eng) 72 70 73, M Korhonen (Fin) 72 72 71, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 72 70 73, G Stal  (Fra) 73 71 71, J Glennemo (Swe) 70 68 77, D Gaunt (Aus) 70 74 71

216 J Barnes (Eng) 68 72 76, R Derksen (Ned) 74 70 72, L Nemecz (Aut) 71 69 76, P Hedblom (Swe) 70 72 74,

217 M Lundberg (Swe) 71 73 73, D Higgins (Irl) 71 72 74, N Fasth (Swe) 75 68 74, R Santos  (Por) 72 71 74, J Hansen  (Den) 69 73 75

218 S Dodd (Wal) 72 71 75, S Henry  (Sco) 75 66 77

219 A Hartø  (Den) 73 71 75

220 I Garrido (Esp) 69 74 77

221 C Cévaër (Fra) 74 68 79

 

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