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Berendt takes two shot
lead into Sunday
Jorge Berendt takes a two-stroke
lead into the final round of the Cannes Open on Sunday, bidding to become Argentina's
third European Tour winner of the year.
Berendt, helped greatly
by an eagle-two at Cannes-Mougins, insisted his third round five-under-par 67
was secured without his best swing.
But the 37-year-old Buenos
Aires player rode his luck on Saturday to move to 16-under-par, two ahead of British
pair Warren Bennett, the overnight leader, and Andrew Marshall.
Spain's Ignacio Garrido
carded a 67 for a share of fourth place -- three off the lead -- with his father
Antonio, a former Ryder Cup player, as caddie.
Henrik Bjornstad, trying
to set up Norway's first win on the full European Tour, dropped back to fourth
after bogeying the last two holes.
Berendt, seeking his maiden
title eight years after losing a playoff for the Portuguese Open to England's
David Gilford, looked fragile when he pulled his first tee shot close to a path
and bushes, but a free drop let him off the hook. He needed several more lucky
breaks to command the lead.
None more so than the par-four
12th when his nine-iron sent the ball into the hole for a two which took him to
the top of the leaderboard.
"That was a huge break
and I was lucky a few times after starting with a very bad hook," said Berendt.
"But even though I was not confident I managed to get a score.
GREAT FRIEND
"Now I hope I can be
the next winner from Argentina."
Berendt hopes to follow
his great friend Ricardo Gonzalez, who won the recent European Masters, and co-sanctioned
Argentina Open winner Angel Cabrera to the winner's enclosure. But Berendt admitted
he was more concerned with making enough money to ensure a card for next season
after needing to go back to tour school last year.
He currently lies 111th
on the money list and needs to make sure he stays in the top 116.
"It would be great
to win and Ricardo's win was special because he is a friend and I am of a similar
standard to him, not like Eduardo Romero or Cabrera.
"But if it doesn't
happen this week then I want to make sure I have plenty of weeks next year to
try to win," Berendt said.
While Marshall birdied the
last three holes for a 69 to climb back to second place, Bennett, who had a one-shot
lead before the round, bogeyed the final hole for a 70 to lose second spot on
his own.
Garrido, without a win since
his successful Ryder Cup year of 1997, is languishing 110th on the money list
and needs a big cheque to avoid having the worst finish of his eight-year tour
career.
The 29-year-old Madrid professional
said he is benefiting from his father, without a seniors event this week, replacing
his regular caddie, who is trying to turn professional.
"He gives me a lot
of confidence," said Garrido. "He doesn't tell me anything I don't know
but if I'm between clubs he gives me the confidence to pick one and trust it and
he's helping me with breaks and lines on the greens."
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