Dier increases lead to three

Germany's Tobias Dier shot his second round of 66 Saturday to remain atop the leaderboard at 16-under 200 after three rounds of the North West of Ireland Open. He leads Stephen Dodd of Wales by three strokes.

Dier continued the form which gave him the lead at the halfway point by birdieing the par-four second. He added two more, on the sixth and eighth, to move to 13-under par after nine holes.

He ran into trouble on the back nine after his drive on the 13th found the water. Dier managed to save par and retain a share of the lead with Dodd who birdied three of four holes from the ninth. On the 15th, Dier saved par after his approach found a green-side bunker.

"All of a sudden I thought it was all going my way and started to hit the shot at the target and it all worked out," said Dier.

Dier began to open his margin on the following hole where his seven-iron left him with a four-foot birdie putt. On the 17th, he rolled in a 20- footer for birdie and he capped off his round with a birdie on the par-five 18th.

"It felt nice and easy," said Dier. "This was my first experience of leading a European Tour event and I felt perfect. On the front nine I was loving it. Hit one shot at a time and was just in the right frame of mind. Tomorrow we will see."

The 24-year-old, who had missed his last six cuts, is in search of his first win on the European Tour. The North West of Ireland Open is an event in which he has had some success. Last year he matched the course record of 65, this year his 54-hole score of 16-under 200 breaks the mark originally set by defending champion Massimo Scarpa.

Dodd, who trailed Dier by only one shot coming into today's round, had five birdies and one bogey in his round of 68. He is also competing for his first title on the European Tour.

"Just need to go out and play and see what happens," he said. "Three shots can always be made up."

Robert Jan Derksen lies one shot behind Dodd after a round of 69. He is currently eight in the Challenge Tour Rankings, a good finish would help him earn a place on the European Tour next year.

Mark Pilkington is alone in fourth at 10-under par followed by Peter Hanson and first-round leader Jesus Maria Arruti, who share fifth at minus-nine.

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