Greig frustrated by inability to master tricky greens

Cort leads from Wright as Hutch

drops to third-place tie in Turkey

PGA PLAY-OFFS NEWS RELEASE

Report from Matthew Suddaby

Matt Cort made the most of the Turkish sun today as he fired himself into contention for a first PGA Play-Offs crown.

The Beedles Lake pro was the stand-out performer during a sun-drenched third day over the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya as he sought to rectify narrowly missing out on the title two years ago.

Here his performance was determined and his card unblemished. 

The turning point of his round came with significant gains around the turn where four birdies saw him leapfrog overnight leader Greig Hutcheon into the lead.

Cort's six-under-par round of 65 for six-under 207 was by far the best of the day, but a congested top end of the leaderboard, which sees only two shots separating the leading five players, means there is still much work to be done going into the final round.

Cort currently sits one shot clear at the top with a six-under-par three round total of 207, but can count PGA Cup player Gareth Wright (West Linton), Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) and two-time champion Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) among those challenging him for the honour of being crowned PGA number one.

In reality any one of the top six could potentially launch a bid for the lead on what promises to be a tense and dramatic final day.

“I felt I played well today,” Cort explained. “I had four birdies on the bounce which really got me going and then I had a few good chances on the way in and narrowly missed an eagle chance.

“It was nice to get a bit of sun after the first couple of days. This is what it’s been like the last couple of years for us.

“But I’m glad to be in contention going into the final day. There’s some very good players out there though, and no doubt there will be plenty of chances for those guys out there over the course of tomorrow.”

Second-placed Wright, meanwhile, was contemplating his own route to the title.

“I think looking out there anyone from three or four back is going to fancy their chances tomorrow,” said the Welshman who shot a 68 to be one off the pace on 208.

“You saw what happened today with Matthew. He went out there, shot a good score and now he’s in the lead.

“The greens are really tricky and I think tomorrow the winner is going to have to hole their putts. That’s going to be key.”

Hutcheon's one-under 70 for four-under 209 leaves him tied third on 209 with Colm Moriarty (68) and James Ruth (69). 
Greig told "Scottishgolfview" by E-mail:

"I'm playing steady golf but not scoring over a good golf course in great condition but I find the Bermuda greens, over-seeded with rye grass, tricky.

"They look fast but putt slow. The underlying dormant Bermuda provides some grain ,but it's tough to read. So I'm not holing as many putts as I'd like .

"Most of my poor putts are short of pace. Never up, never in😤  Trying again tomorrow."

The scene is set for battles further down the field as a bunched up leaderboard means that several players are very much in contention for a place in the top 10, and with it a place in the 2016 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, subject to confirmation of the European Tour’s schedule.

A second Scot in the six is Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) who shot a 69 for 211 - only four off the lead.

Among them are PGA Cup players Cameron Clark (Moor Hall) and Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge), level-par and one-over respectively, and PGA Assistants’ champion Jack Harrison (Wildwood), who sits level with David Salisbury (Three Rivers) on one-over-par.

PGA PLAY-OFFS THIRD ROUND SCORES
Antalya Golf Club, Turkey.
Par 213 (3x71)

Pos	Player				R1	R2	R3
1	Matthew Cort  Beedles Lake Golf Club				68	74	65		207
2	Gareth Wright  West Linton Golf Club				68	72	68		208
T3	Colm Moriarty  Drive Golf Performance Limited				67	74	68		209
T3	James Ruth  China Fleet Golf & Country Clu				74	66	69		209
T3	Greig Hutcheon  Paul Lawrie Golf Centre				68	71	70		209
6	Graham Fox  Clydeway Golf				74	68	69		211
7	David Higgins  Waterville Golf Links				68	73	71		212
8	Cameron Clark  Moor Hall Golf Club				71	73	69		213
9	Paul Hendriksen  Ivybridge Golf Club				72	72	70		214
T10	Eamonn Brady  Clontarf Golf Club				72	73	70		215
T10	James Ablett  Lee-on-The-Solent Golf Club				72	73	70		215
T12	David Salisbury  Three Rivers Golf & Country Cl				73	75	68		216
T12	Jack Harrison  Wildwood Golf & Country Club				73	74	69		216
T14	Adam Frayne  Yelverton Golf Club				73	74	71		218
T14	Jak Hamblett  Handsworth Golf Club				71	75	72		218
16	Garry Houston  Carden Park Golf				74	74	71		219
T17	Darren Charlton  Dunstable Downs Golf Club				70	77	73		220
T17	Guy Woodman  Longball Inc				73	73	74		220
19	Chris Kelly unattached				75	72	74		221
T20	Luke Towler  Telford Golf & Country Club				75	78	70		223
T20	Lee Thompson  Dudsbury Golf Club				73	78	72		223
T22	Glen Portelli  Verulam Golf Club				76	74	75		225
T22	Benn Barham  Pentland Golf				74	73	78		225
T24	Craig Corrigan  Chilli Dip Golf Academy				76	78	75		229
T24	Simon Edwards  Windermere Golf Club				73	78	78		229