Dredge vaults into lead with 60

Bradley Dredge of Wales missed birdie putts on the last two holes, squandering a chance to shoot the first 59 on the European Tour at the Madeira Island Open on Saturday.

Dredge had 10 birdies and an eagle in 16 holes, but missed birdie putts of 11 and 30 feet at Nos. 17 and 18. He shot a 12-under 60 to move to 15-under, and has an eight-stroke lead heading into Sunday's final round at Santo da Serra Golf Club.

"I really wanted to shoot a 59," Dredge said. "I didn't drive the ball as well as I normally do, but my iron play and putting made up for that."

Dredge's 60 is the 11th in European Tour competition, and just the fourth on a par-72 course. Darren Clarke has shot 60 twice.

Three players have shot a 59 on the PGA Tour - Al Geiberger, Chip Beck and David Duval - while Annika Sorenstam is the lone player to do it on the LPGA Tour. The last 60 at a PGA Tour event was by Mark Calcavecchia at the par-71 TPC of Scottsdale in the second round of the Phoenix Open in 2001. There have been 13 60s in PGA Tour events.

The 29-year-old Dredge, the only top 100 player in the tournament, made birdie on the first and third holes, and strung together four birdies on Nos. 5-8. He made a 20-foot eagle putt at the 11th, and had three straight birdies at Nos. 12-14.

After a par at the 15th, Dredge rolled in a 15-footer birdie putt at the 16th. He lipped out a birdie putt at the 17th and, after driving into the rough at No. 18, missed a long birdie putt to the left.

"I didn't think about a 59 until walking off the green at 16th when I made birdie," he said. "I gave myself a good chance on the 17th and just hit a bad drive on the 18th."

England's Van Phillips was in second place at 7 under after a 5-under 67. Andrew Marshall is third at 6 under after a third-round 69.

Seve Ballesteros, playing in his first tournament in five months, shot a 71 in the third round and was at 6 over with one round remaining.

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