Muntz opens up six shot lead

Rolf Muntz on his way to a 6 shot lead today. Allsport

Dutchman Rolf Muntz stood on the brink of his first European Tour victory after he surged to a six-stroke lead at the end of the third round of the Qatar Masters on Saturday.

Muntz shot a five-under-par 67, the joint-best round of the week, for a total of eight-under 208. Australian Stephen Leaney is his nearest rival on 214 after a 70.

Leaney, twice a winner in Europe during his 1998 debut year, has had to overcome an injury sustained in a charity cricket match in Melbourne a month ago.

The Australian is two shots ahead of Swede Mathias Gronberg, Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen and Irishman Paul McGinley.

Gronberg shared a one-shot lead with Muntz going into the third round but fell away after a bright start to card 75.

Kjeldsen, the runner-up in this event last year, posted 73 and McGinley also slipped, shooting 74.

Muntz, seeking his first victory in his sixth year on the Tour, launched his third round with two birdies and went on to scatter the field with three more.

The Dutchman suffered setbacks by bogeying three times in four holes from the 12th before pulling himself round to regain his advantage with three successive birdies to finish.

"It wasn't really a wobble with the bogeys because the wind means that bogeys are bound to come along," said Muntz, "but I didn't want to mess up after my start or it would be a bitter pill to swallow. So it was good to find a big finish.

"The wind means that it's good to have the six-shot cushion but it can still go either way."

If Muntz carries off the 125,000 dollars first prize it will end a run of disappointments, particularly his second runner-up place last year when he lost a play-off for the Scottish PGA title to England's Warren Benett.

Leaney had to mount a fightback after double-bogeying the third, hitting back with five birdies.

"When I made the double-bogey I thought I was in real trouble," said Leaney, "but I got lucky with my putting. I holed a few beauties at the ninth, 10th and 11th."

The Australian's season was interrupted a month ago because of a hairline fracture of the ring finger he suffered during the charity match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Leaney said: "I was wicketkeeper and (former Australian test batsman) Dean Jones threw the ball at pace from 50 yards and the ball didn't go into my glove properly."

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