|
Rumford on course for
wire to wire win
Australian Brett Rumford topped the Aa St-Omer leaderboard for the third straight
day after posting a three-under-par 68 on Saturday.
The 25-year-old from Perth followed up his opening course record 64 and second-round
70 with four birdies to stand at 11-under-par 202, in sight of his maiden European
Tour success.
Rumford was disappointed to drop a late shot but heads Britain's Ben Mason
and Garry Houston by three strokes, on a day affected by a four-hour delay because
of stormy weather in the morning.
"It was a long day," said Rumford, who had shown his intentions by
hitting to just a foot at the first for his opening birdie.
"I played solid golf, missed a few opportunities, and it was disappointing
to bogey the 17th but I'll just focus on tomorrow's round now and try to keep
playing as I'm playing."
Rumford beat the professionals in 1999 on the Australasian Tour, when he won
the ANZ Championship as an amateur, but the closest he has come to a European
success was second in the 2001 Sao Paulo Brazil Open.
In 2001 he was leading the Ericsson Masters in Melbourne, also on the Australasian
Tour, by three shots going into the final round, but lost out to Colin Montgomerie.
He is keeping his feet on the ground for the final push for his first European
honour.
"Previous performances are irrelevant," said Rumford. "Different
tournament, different conditions, different country.
"My game has become stronger; I've become a lot stronger. Let's see how
we go now."
After finishing 57th on the 2001 European money-list Rumford's career went
into decline, coinciding with his caddy and brother Mitch leaving the tour and
going home.
But Rumford has come to terms with European touring and has proved in France
he is ready for his first win and immediate promotion to the full tour, as well
as a one-year exemption for 2004.
That is along with $78,000 first prize in an event co-sanctioned with the Challenge
Tour he is presently playing.
Email
this page to a friend | Return
to top of page | 
