Jose Maria Olazabal takes narrow advantage

Jose Maria Olazabal takes a one-shot lead into Sunday's Majorca Classic final round but, as course-designer, his revamped greens came under fire after Saturday's third round.

Olazabal himself admitted the greens were "not in good shape" after three-putting twice on the back nine.

The Spaniard shot a level-par 70 to lie six-under-par, a stroke ahead of Britain's overnight leader Paul Broadhurst (72) and Denmark's Soren Hansen (66).

Defending champion Sergio Garcia (71) missed a string of short putts to slide five shots off the lead. The world number six felt that the unpredictable greens had caused his putting demons to return.

Olazabal, without a win in three years, said: "I said all along the greens were not in good shape. On some, the speeds were different to others and I agree they were difficult.

"I don't know if it has to do with the rain we've had, but I'm pretty sure they will take notice and have them better next year.

"I was happy enough with the way I hit the ball, maybe not so much with the irons, but my putting was no good."

Broadhurst, who led by a stroke with two holes to play, also three-putted twice coming home, but refused to blame the greens.

"It's the same for everybody," said the Englishman. "I chucked in a couple of three-putts and there was a big swing when Jose Maria birdied the 16th and I bogeyed the last. I just putted badly all day."

Despite missing a two-footer on the last, Garcia, who played a shot from the water's edge on 16 with rolled up trousers and bare feet, still believes he can win to try to gain ground on the injured Ernie Els's world number five spot.

He said: "It's frustrating but these greens have got to my head.

"They are good greens with good grass but very new and you look down and you just don't know how you are going to make the putt, with humps going this way and that way.

"It takes so much confidence out of you. I had been putting well recently but I've lost it again. But believe it or not, I still have a chance."

Hansen's 66 was the best score of the day and propelled the Dane to joint second after starting in 21st place.

Swede Mattias Eliasson, needing to finish at least fourth to keep his tour card, is two shots off the lead, sharing fourth place after firing a 70.

Compatriot Marten Olander, who started the day six strokes off the pace, slumped to an 80 to lie on 219, 15 shots behind Olazabal.

Sam Little of England and New Zealander Stephen Scahill improved their chances of keeping their European Tour cards with rounds of 68 and 69 respectively, to move up to tied 12th position on 208.

204 Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa) 69 65 70

205 Soren Hansen (Den) 70 69 66, Paul Broadhurst 67 66 72

206 Bradley Dredge 72 67 67, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 70 66 70, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 68 68 70

207 Jean Van de Velde (Fra) 70 71 66, Simon Wakefield 69 71 67, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 68 70 69, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 68 69 70

208 Sam Little 67 73 68, Stephen Scahill (Nzl) 70 69 69, John Bickerton 67 71 70, Simon Khan 67 69 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 69 66 73

209 Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 70 71 68, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 68 72 69, Santiago Luna (Spa) 69 69 71, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 69 71, Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 70 68 71

210 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 72 69 69, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 71 69, Graeme Storm 70 71 69, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 68 72 70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 67 71 72, David Park 68 70 72, David Lynn 70 68 72

211 Damien McGrane 72 71 68, Andrew Oldcorn 71 71 69, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 73 69 69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 72 68 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 69 71, Jonathan Lomas 65 74 72, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 69 70 72, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 68 68 75

212 Markus Brier (Aut) 71 73 68, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 70 73 69, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 73 70, Andrea Maestroni (Ita) 73 68 71, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 71 70 71, Paul Lawrie 70 71 71, Robert Rock 70 70 72

213 Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 71 73 69, Johan Skold (Swe) 71 73 69, Mark Roe 69 72 72, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 70 71 72, Miguel Angel Martin (Spa) 69 71 73, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 69 70 74, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 70 69 74, Scott Drummond 69 69 75, Mark Foster 66 72 75

214 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 69 75 70, Jamie Donaldson 73 70 71, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 70 73 71, Jamie Spence 72 70 72, Fredrik Henge (Swe) 68 74 72, Robert Coles 70 70 74

215 Andrew Coltart 71 73 71, Stephen Gallacher 73 71 71, Alastair Forsyth 69 70 76, Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 69 70 76, Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 69 69 77

216 Raymond Russell 74 70 72, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 73 71 72, Matthew Blackey 72 71 73, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 71 71 74

217 Alfredo Garcia (Spa) 75 69 73, Garry Houston 71 73 73, Ian Garbutt 73 71 73, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 69 74 74, Niki Zitny (Aut) 70 72 75

218 Simon Hurd 69 74 75, Gary Murphy 66 74 78

219 Phillip Archer 71 73 75, Marten Olander (Swe) 68 71 80

220 Nick Dougherty 71 73 76, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 72 77, Simon Dyson 77 65 78

221 Ivo Giner (Spa) 70 73 78

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