England's Simon Wakefield chipped in at the last hole to grab a share of the Johnnie Walker Championship third-round lead alongside Swede Fredrik Andersson-Hed today.
A closing birdie in strong afternoon winds gave Wakefield a
level-par 73 for a nine-under tally of 210, the same mark as
Andersson-Hed who compiled a blemish-free 66 in less arduous
morning conditions.
The pair were a stroke in front of 2006 European rookie of
the year Marc Warren of Scotland (73).
Wakefield said yesterday, when he shared the second-round
lead with Frenchman Thomas Levet, that he could never perform well
on Saturdays. But in winds gusting up to 25-mph, the 33-year-old
Englishman battled to end his jinx.
"The wind was unbelievable at times," Wakefield said. "When I
made a double-bogey on the third I thought 'here we go again,
Saturday'.
"If ever there was going to be a Saturday where I could have
finished five or six over this was it but this time I overcame it.
The chip at the end was brilliant."
Andersson-Hed, he has added his wife's surname to his own, was
rewarded for taking a chance with a back problem just before the
event as he ran up seven birdies.
"I was just exercising at home when I felt some really bad
twinges," said the Swede. "I considered pulling out of the
tournament but because I had booked the flight, decided to come.
"The back was so painful I didn't hit a shot on Wednesday,
just had a few putts. But the tour physios did a great job and I
was fit to play on Thursday."
A strong three weeks in European spring-time when he finished
second, third and sixth ensured he would not lose his card this
time round after a year on the lower-ranked Challenge Tour.
Former European number one Lee Westwood shared fourth place,
two off the lead, with Scotland's Alastair Forsyth and England's
Phillip Archer.
A double-bogey on 15 left Levet a further stroke back on 213
with four other players.
Darren Clarke's 76 left the Dungannonman 10 shots off the pace on one-over, three better than Peter Lawrie who shot 77.
