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| Ross Fisher © Gallo Images |
Ross Fisher of England will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Irish Open after shooting a par 71 on Saturday.
Fisher built a five-shot lead after opening his third round with
four birdies in his first seven holes.
However, he carded a double bogey six at the par-4 8th hole when
he put his approach to the green into water, and then dropped two
more shots late in his round to drop back to 12 under.
That gave renewed hope to his playing partner Francesco
Molinari, who at one stage was six strokes off the lead.
But after a 69, the Italian found himself just one shot behind
Fisher.
A stroke further back in third place was Spain's Gonzalo
Fernandez-Castano, who carded a 3-under 68 to reach 10 under.
Fisher had the consolation of knowing that despite playing his
last 11 holes in 4 over, he had not played himself out of
contention.
"I am a little bit disappointed," he said. "And I hadn't
realized how far I was ahead at the start of the back nine. I
certainly didn't realize I was six ahead.
"But I am still leading, I have got a one-shot lead and I am
still the man to catch. But if I am going to win I am going to have
play more like Friday when I shot 61."
Molinari, seventh in the qualifying table that will provide
Europe with nine Ryder Cup players in October, knows that a victory
will guarantee he makes his debut against America.
But he does not just fear that Fisher will recapture the form
which saw shoot 61 in Friday's second round.
"Obviously I am in a good position," said Molinari. "But I think
quite a few very good players are within very few shots of the lead
so its going to be an interesting Sunday. And if the winds gets up
its going to be tough."
Australia's Richard Green and Padraig Harrington, who both shot
69s, share fourth place and the Irishman is convinced he can repeat
his 2007 Irish Open victory achieved at Adare Manor in Limerick.
"I am happy still to be in the tournament, and to have actually
seen the lead cut down," Harrington said after driving into water
at his final hole and sinking a 35-foot putt to save par. "If I
play well and get in a good position, I thinks its possible to
catch anyone out there."
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