Bet on this tournament & other sports here

Stenson maintains 3 shot lead

Sweden's Henrik Stenson maintained his lead on Saturday after he posted a third-round, one-under 71 at the International Open. His 54-hole total of 11-under 205 is three better than fellow countryman Olle Karlsson and first-round co-leader Paul McGinley.

Angel Cabrera is alone in fourth at seven-under while Aaron Baddeley, Desvonde Botes and Eduardo Romero, who matched the course record at The Belfry on Saturday with a six-under 66, are at minus-six.

European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance was tied for third after the second round but withdrew Saturday morning. Torrance injured a rib when he was hitting balls on the practice range Friday night. He tried to hit a few practice shots on Saturday morning before he withdrew.

"The first wedge shot I hit, it felt like a knife going in," said Torrance.

Stenson, the 2000 Challenge Tour Order of Merit champion, saw his three-shot lead quickly fall as he bogeyed two of his first four holes. He got one stroke back with a birdie at seven for a front-nine 37.

The 25-year-old made birdie at 11 and then got his three-shot advantage back at the par-five 15th. Stenson nailed a four-iron from 229 yards to 20 feet where he lagged his eagle effort to a foot. After tapping in for birdie, he missed a chance to extend his lead when he was off the mark on a six-foot birdie at 16.

"I had a rough start but I fought hard to get the shots back which I managed to do so I’m pretty pleased with the day overall," said Stenson. "To be honest I didn’t expect to shoot 71 and still be leading by three, but it is difficult to tell what will happen sometimes."

Stenson won three times last season on the Challenge Tour but has never finished better than a tie for 11th on the European Tour.

"My game plan tomorrow will be the same as it has been for the first three rounds, just go out there and try and play as well as I can and to do the very best on every shot. I had a good year last year, but to win on the main Tour would be really special."

Karlsson birdied two of his last four holes to get his share of second place. The Swede carded a four-under 68 on Saturday.

McGinley got to within one of Stenson's lead after he eagled the par-five 15th, but a bogey at the last, coupled with Stenson's birdie later at 15, dropped the Irishman into a tie for second. He finished with a two-under 70.

Phillip Price, Henrik Nystrom and Jarrod Moseley share eighth place at five- under 211.

Thomas Bjorn, who played in the last group on Saturday with Stenson, carded three bogeys and 15 pars on Saturday to shoot 75. He dropped into a tie for 11th at minus-four.

Colin Montgomerie is at three-under for the tournament after a third-round 71. Defending champion Jose Maria Olazabal is at two-under and Lee Westwood is 12 shots off the lead at plus-one after a 76 on Saturday.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page