Shane Lowry produced his lowest round of the week to climb into a share of 17th place as Grant Forrest remains in contention for a wire-to-wire victory at the Open de España presented by Madrid after a brilliant back-nine charge saw him share the lead with Joe Dean heading into the final round at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
Lowry endured a largely frustrating first two rounds, carding a one-under 70 on Thursday and following with a level-par 71 on Friday, but while he struggled for accuracy off the tee a little in round three there was a marked improvement with scoring clubs in hand.
It was a poor start, however, as he bogeyed the par-4 opening hole after finding a fairway bunker and being forced to lay up well short of the green. The round’s highlight came shortly afterwards with a superb approach from the right-hand rough and a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fourth and he was up and running.
Two more front nine birdies followed, and when he rolled in another on the 12th, he’d found his way to four-under for the day. A sloppily-played par-5 14th cost him his second bogey of the day, but he regrouped and managed to get that shot back on the last after driving the green on the short par-4 closing hole.
Though he’ll go into the final round eight behind the leading duo and likely out of contention for victory, he’s just three shots outside the top 10 and every little helps as he looks to shore up his place inside the top 50 on the world rankings and remove any doubt as to his participation in next year’s Masters Tournament.
Forrest began Saturday with a one-shot advantage but slipped back after following birdies at the third and fourth with a bogey at the fifth and five consecutive pars.
The Scot found his rhythm on the back nine, however, rolling in birdies at the 11th, 14th and 16th to reach 13 under par and join Englishman Dean at the summit.
Sheffield native Dean staged a fightback of his own, finishing with a birdie from 31 feet at the last to erase the damage of a late stumble.
Eight birdies in his first 15 holes had propelled Dean to a three-shot lead, but his advantage disappeared when he followed a double bogey at the 16th with a bogey at the 17th.
His superb finish ensured he remained alongside Forrest at 13 under, with Joel Girrbach, Victor Perez and Jacob Skov Olesen one shot further back.
Home favourite Angel Ayora is also in the hunt, sitting three shots off the lead at ten under par after firing a five-under-par 66, with the Spanish crowds cheering him on in pursuit of a maiden DP World Tour title. Frenchman Martin Couvra is a further shot back at nine under par.
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