Golf: Darren Clarke shot a five-under-par 67 to remain in contention at the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain, one shot adrift of co-leaders Paul Casey and Swede Peter Hanson. The leading duo is 16-under-par, with Clarke in a share of third with South Africa's James Kingston.
Clarke led the way after an opening 32, but then reeled off eight pars in a row before boosting his hopes of a 13th European Tour title with a closing 14-foot birdie putt.
The 42-year-old is working on a putting tip from Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal and commented: "It's definitely been an awful lot better.
"Even the ones I miss have been quality strokes, which is a pleasant change. Jose Maria told me it would take a while."
Michael Hoey is the closest Irishman to him on seven under after an impressive 68. Pádraig Harrington, however, went backwards to four under, thanks to a one-over-par 73, while Peter Lawrie moved to within a shot of his fellow Dubliner with a 71.
Casey justified his position as the highest-ranked player in the field with a 66, that owed a lot to an eagle and birdie on the two par fives on the back nine.
Victory for the Englishman could make it four Europeans in the top five on the rankings with Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell currently first, second and fourth.
"It was fun," said Casey. "I had good control of the ball for the first time this week and drove it very nicely. It was only one shot lower than the first two days, but a lot more comfortable and probably should have been lower."
He missed from under six feet on the last.
Hanson, one of four halfway leaders, shot a second successive 67 to go with his opening 66.
An eagle on the ninth for the second day running was the obvious highlight for Hanson. It followed birdies on the two previous holes and then came a 35-foot putt for another at the 11th.
"I had high expectations in Abu Dhabi last week, but then went down with the 'flu," he stated. "I still have a bit of a cough, but no fever and I'm very happy how I'm playing.
"It's going to be a tough day, though, and it's all about trying to make as many birdies as you can."
Miguel Angel Jimenez was back with a putter in his bag after breaking one into two pieces during a second round moment of anger, but it did not do him much good.
Jimenez made three birdies using a lob-wedge instead, but from a 65 and a share of the second round he slipped back to fifth spot with a 69.
Round of the day was a course record-equalling 64 from 2004 Open champion Todd Hamilton. He had made the cut with only a shot to spare and still had five strokes to make up.
Sergio Garcia and went in the opposite direction with a 73 and Colin Montgomerie remained three under with a 72.
Collated third round scores & totals in the European Tour Volvo Golf Champions, Royal Golf Club, Kingdom of Bahrain, Bahrain
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72):
200
Peter Hanson (Swe) 66 67 67, Paul Casey 67 67 66
201
James Kingston (Rsa) 67 67 67,
Darren Clarke 69 65 67
202
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 68 65 69
203
Stephen Gallacher 70 64 69, Matteo Manassero (Ita) 67 70 66, Johan Edfors (Swe) 64 71 68
204
Francesco Molinari (Ita) 66 69 69, Alexander Noren (Swe) 67 70 67, David Horsey 69 70 65, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 68 65 71
205
Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 67 69, Anders Hansen (Den) 68 68 69, Todd Hamilton (USA) 70 71 64, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 67 68
206
Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 71 65 70, Steve Webster 68 68 70, Mark Foster 69 70 67, Bradley Dredge 70 67 69
207
Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 69 68 70, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 70 69 68, Richie Ramsay 72 68 67, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 68 71 68, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 69 68 70, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 66 71 70, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 67 69 71, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 73 67 67
208
Christian Nilsson (Swe) 68 70 70, Oliver Wilson 71 71 66, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 68 65 75, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 67 69
209
Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 70 71 68, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 70 69 70, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 67 69 73, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 69 69 71, Graeme Storm 66 70 73, Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 69 72, David Dixon 71 66 72, Ian Poulter 72 69 68, Richard Green (Aus) 67 70 72,
Michael Hoey 72 69 68
210
Danny Lee (Nzl) 70 72 68, Anthony Wall 69 70 71, Gary Orr 71 70 69, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 68 69 73, Tano Goya (Arg) 75 67 68, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 70 69 71
211
Thomas Bjorn (Den) 75 67 69, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 72 68 71, Kenneth Ferrie 71 69 71
212
Soren Hansen (Den) 71 68 73, Paul Broadhurst 69 68 75, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 73,
Pádraig Harrington 70 69 73
213
Martin Wiegele (Aut) 71 70 72, Richard Finch 71 71 71, Colin Montgomerie 72 69 72, Paul Lawrie 68 73 72, Phillip Price 73 69 71,
Peter Lawrie 68 74 71
214
Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 71 73
215
Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67 73 75, Scott Strange (Aus) 68 71 76
216
Mark Brown (Nzl) 71 69 76
217
Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 71 75
220
Markus Brier (Aut) 71 71 78
