Fitzpatrick goes five clear in Nordea Masters
FROM EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Matthew Fitzpatrick will take a commanding five-shot lead into the final round of the Nordea Masters as he goes in search of a second European Tour title at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, Sweden on Sunday.
The Englishman came into day three with a three-shot advantage but found himself a shot adrift of Nicolas Colsaerts after eight holes as the Belgian made a surge up the leaderboard.
A stunning back nine of 32 saw Fitzpatrick, pictured, pull clear once more, however, as he made five birdies in seven holes on his way to a round of 68 and a 15 under par total.
Colsaerts and defending champion Alex Noren are Fitzpatrick's closest challengers, with the Swede seeking his third title in six years after an excellent 67.
Fitzpatrick burst onto the scene in 2015 with ten top tens including a maiden victory at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, but has made the top ten just once so far this season.
That was at the Masters Tournament, though, and a win on Sunday would go a long way to securing his place in the European Ryder Cup team that will take on the United States at Hazeltine in the autumn.
"I'm obviously delighted," he said. "It was a bit of a slow start, and I find the front nine more difficult than the back nine, especially in the wind.
"But I stayed patient and got my rewards in the end. It's one of the things I've learned since turning pro.
"The greens are pristine and the way I've putted on them, it won't surprise you to learn I'm a big fan of them. I wish we could putt on them every week."
Denmark's Lasse Jensen was at nine under after firing the low round of the day with a 66, with home favourites Alexander Björk and Rikard Karlberg, England's Andrew Johnston and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros two further shots back.
Noren made a brilliant start as he birdied the first and second and when he rolled in a long, curling putt on the seventh, he was a man on the charge.
Colsaerts had birdies on the fourth and second as Fitzpatrick opened with seven straight pars and when the 21 year old bogeyed the eighth with Colsaerts rolling in a 20-footer, the lead had changed hands.
Noren had lost his momentum with bogeys on the tenth and 11th but came roaring back with four gains in a row as the duo in the final group continued to battle it out.
Fitzpatrick birdied the ninth and when a two-shot swing followed on the tenth, he had opened up a two-shot lead.
Colsaerts found water to bogey the 13th and when Fitzpatrick played a beautiful chip to birdie the same hole and followed it with two more courtesy of a downhill left-to-right putt and a stunning approach, he was in total control.
Colsaerts also birdied the 15th but he missed a chance for another gain on the last as Fitzpatrick moved into a commanding position.
Jensen produced the round of the day with birdies on the third, ninth, 13th, 14th, 15th and last in a flawless effort.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72) Yardage: 7,511
201 M Fitzpatrick (England) 68 65 68
206 N Colsaerts (Belgium) 70 66 70, A Noren (Sweden) 69 70 67
207 L Jensen (Denmark) 72 69 66
209 A Johnston (England) 67 69 73, A Bjork (Sweden) 68 68 73, A Quiros (Spain) 71 70 68, R Karlberg (Sweden) 70 69 70
SELECTED SCORES
210 Scott Henry (Scotland) 67 69 74 (T9)
211 Lee Westwood (England) 68 71 72 (T12)
214 Marc Warren (Scotland) 69 73 74 (T29)
216 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 73 69 74 (T44)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
FROM EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Matthew Fitzpatrick will take a commanding five-shot lead into the final round of the Nordea Masters as he goes in search of a second European Tour title at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, Sweden on Sunday.
The Englishman came into day three with a three-shot advantage but found himself a shot adrift of Nicolas Colsaerts after eight holes as the Belgian made a surge up the leaderboard.
A stunning back nine of 32 saw Fitzpatrick, pictured, pull clear once more, however, as he made five birdies in seven holes on his way to a round of 68 and a 15 under par total.
Colsaerts and defending champion Alex Noren are Fitzpatrick's closest challengers, with the Swede seeking his third title in six years after an excellent 67.
Fitzpatrick burst onto the scene in 2015 with ten top tens including a maiden victory at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, but has made the top ten just once so far this season.
That was at the Masters Tournament, though, and a win on Sunday would go a long way to securing his place in the European Ryder Cup team that will take on the United States at Hazeltine in the autumn.
"I'm obviously delighted," he said. "It was a bit of a slow start, and I find the front nine more difficult than the back nine, especially in the wind.
"But I stayed patient and got my rewards in the end. It's one of the things I've learned since turning pro.
"The greens are pristine and the way I've putted on them, it won't surprise you to learn I'm a big fan of them. I wish we could putt on them every week."
Denmark's Lasse Jensen was at nine under after firing the low round of the day with a 66, with home favourites Alexander Björk and Rikard Karlberg, England's Andrew Johnston and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros two further shots back.
Noren made a brilliant start as he birdied the first and second and when he rolled in a long, curling putt on the seventh, he was a man on the charge.
Colsaerts had birdies on the fourth and second as Fitzpatrick opened with seven straight pars and when the 21 year old bogeyed the eighth with Colsaerts rolling in a 20-footer, the lead had changed hands.
Noren had lost his momentum with bogeys on the tenth and 11th but came roaring back with four gains in a row as the duo in the final group continued to battle it out.
Fitzpatrick birdied the ninth and when a two-shot swing followed on the tenth, he had opened up a two-shot lead.
Colsaerts found water to bogey the 13th and when Fitzpatrick played a beautiful chip to birdie the same hole and followed it with two more courtesy of a downhill left-to-right putt and a stunning approach, he was in total control.
Colsaerts also birdied the 15th but he missed a chance for another gain on the last as Fitzpatrick moved into a commanding position.
Jensen produced the round of the day with birdies on the third, ninth, 13th, 14th, 15th and last in a flawless effort.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72) Yardage: 7,511
201 M Fitzpatrick (England) 68 65 68
206 N Colsaerts (Belgium) 70 66 70, A Noren (Sweden) 69 70 67
207 L Jensen (Denmark) 72 69 66
209 A Johnston (England) 67 69 73, A Bjork (Sweden) 68 68 73, A Quiros (Spain) 71 70 68, R Karlberg (Sweden) 70 69 70
SELECTED SCORES
210 Scott Henry (Scotland) 67 69 74 (T9)
211 Lee Westwood (England) 68 71 72 (T12)
214 Marc Warren (Scotland) 69 73 74 (T29)
216 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 73 69 74 (T44)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, June 04, 2016
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