Golf

Lowry just two off lead after equalling course record at Carnoustie

Bogey on 18 costs Irish golfer as Peter Uihlein leads by two

Shane Lowry hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Shane Lowry hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Sat Sept 28 2013 - 18:45

A bogey on the 18th hole stopped Shane Lowry setting a new course record at Carnoustie as he played his way right into contention at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Offaly golfer signed for a record-equalling 64 at the toughest of the three links courses in use for the tournament to move to 18 under and a tie for second place going in to the final round at St Andrews.

Lowry, who holed out with a five iron from 225 yards for an eagle two on the 17th, was playing with Australian Richard Green – who happens to own a share of the course record at Carnoustie.

“I didn’t know what the record was but Richard told me in the scorers’ hut afterwards,” Lowry said. “But any score under par at Carnoustie is usually good so I am delighted with eight under.

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“I knew I needed a good score to have any chance and didn’t think I was going to shoot 64. I didn’t see the eagle go in but my dad was watching and he let me know pretty quickly!”

American Peter Uihlein leads the way on 20 under after a 65at St Andrews .

Twenty-four hours after needing an eagle on the last hole to shoot an historic 59, Uihlein produced one at St Andrews to claim a two-shot lead.

Uihlein narrowly missed his eagle putt on the ninth at Kingsbarns on Friday and had to settle for recording the 17th round of 60 in European Tour history, but the American finished his round on the Old Course in stunning style.

The 24-year-old’s pitch from 47 yards plunged straight into the hole for an eagle two to complete a 65.

Uihlein was only one under after an opening 71 at Carnoustie but has played his last 36 holes in 19 under, eclipsing the previous record of 18 under set by Thomas Aiken at Leopard Creek in 2009.

However, with scoring conditions again perfect, that was only good enough to lead by two from Lowry, Ernie Els, David Howell, Joost Luiten, Martin Kaymer, Richard McEvoy.

England's Paul Casey also equalled the course record at St Andrews with a 62, although he was seven off the lead on 13 under.

“It was not quite what I was trying to do but it worked out,” Uihlein said of the final shot on his first competitive round on the Old Course. “I carried it a bit too far but got a bit lucky and it’s pretty sweet, a cool finish and a great way to sign off.

“I felt I missed quite a few putts coming down the stretch so it makes up for it a little.”

Uihlein won his first European Tour title in Madeira in May and finished second in the Wales Open recently, letting slip a three-shot lead going into the final round at Celtic Manor.

“I don’t know if it gets easier but the more you do it the more comfortable you get,” he added. “St Andrews is the Home of Golf and the greatest course in the world. Any time you can win at St Andrews would be special. It’s every golfer’s dream to win out here.”

Els has twice been part of winning Dunhill Cup teams for South Africa at St Andrews, but would love to win an individual title tomorrow, especially after making the cut in the pro-am event with his father Neels.

“I needed a change,” admitted the former British Open champion – who will compete for the International Team in next week’s Presidents Cup – after his 64 at St Andrews.

“I’ve been in a bit of a rut playing in the FedEx Cup in the States, playing week to week and kind of going brain dead. You don’t know exactly what you’re playing for.

“To come here and play with my dad, who turned 70 this year, at these beautiful links courses makes a change and that’s what I needed. It would mean a great deal to win this event especially with our close connection with (tournament promoter) Johann Rupert and his family. I’ve come close quite a few times and I feel I need to get my name on that trophy.

“I’m in a great position but there’s a lot of guys in there. It will be a great shoot-out tomorrow, depending on the weather. If it’s like this, it will be amazing.”

Michael Hoey (67) and Darren Clarke (66) are both on 15 under after their third rounds at St Andrews, while Paul McGinley is on 11 under after a 67 on the Old Course.

Pádraig Harrington birdied the 18th at St Andrews in a 64 that saw him move to 10 under, to make the three-round cut by two shots.

Gareth Maybin, Simon Thornton, Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie and David Higgins all missed the cut.