Park holds on to narrow advantage

Britain's David Park maintained his lead in the Canaries Spanish Open third round on Saturday but Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez moved to within a shot as he bids for back-to-back victories.

Park's one-over-par 71 left him at 10-under 200 but Gonzalez, whose 64 was just a stroke off the Fuerteventura Club course record, is hot on his heels as he seeks to follow up on last week's Seville Open success.

Sweden's Peter Hedblom (68) and Christian Cevaer of France (69), Park's playing partners, were a further stroke back in a tie for third.

The 29-year-old Park, who opened with scores of 64 and 65, is trying to end a lengthy slump after clinching his maiden European Tour title in only his second start at the 1999 European Grand Prix.

The Welshman, four clear overnight, stumbled early in his round by double-bogeying the short seventh, where his ball found the lake, but recovered his composure to stay ahead of the chasing pack.

"I've tried to play my best every week, but a win, I suppose, would end a long wait," agreed Park.

"Today I played about as well as my first two rounds but I just didn't hole many putts."

Gonzalez said "my best friend was my putter today" but he also demonstrated the power that has made him one of the tour's longest drivers as he collected two eagles.

He drove just 40 yards short of the 401-yard par-four sixth and chipped in for a two, and needed only a seven-iron approach to 30 feet at the par-five 17th where he finished with a three.

The 34-year-old from Rosario, coincidentally also the capital of Fuerteventura, is aiming to complete a Spanish hat-trick, having also won last year's Madrid Open.

"I'm enjoying Spain so much that I'm thinking of changing my passport," joked Gonzalez.

"Winning again is very important because it will put me in great shape for our World Cup team, and representing Argentina in Seville is my top goal this year."

Last week's success lifted Gonzalez to 69th in the world rankings and he is already fancied to make Argentina's two-man team in November at the scene of last week's victory, with Eduardo Romero currently lying 79th and Angel Cabrera 94th.

Cevaer and Hedblom are trying to win after needing medical exemptions in 2003, the Frenchman after breaking his elbow in a snowboarding accident and the Swede after breaking a leg in an ice-hockey spill.

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