Wales pull two shots clear

A late eagle-two by Bradley Dredge helped Wales take a two-shot lead after Saturday's fourball format in the third round of the WGC-World Cup at the Victoria course.

With Dredge's partner Stephen Dodd producing steady golf over the last two holes, Wales completed an 11-under-par 61 to finish at 27-under 189.

The duo, bidding for a second Welsh World Cup title after the 1987 triumph in Kapalua, Hawaii by compatriots Ian Woosnam and David Llewellyn, led defending champions England and Sweden, who were tied for second after carding matching 63s.

Dredge, who eagled the par-four 15th with a 20-foot putt from the fringe of the green, was the senior partner on day three with an impressive haul of five birdies.

However, Dodd, twice a winner on the 2005 European Tour, was required to keep a cool head late on to ensure that Wales stayed ahead of the chasing pack.

Dredge found water over the two closing holes but Dodd's birdie on 17 and a solid par at the last maintained the pair's two-shot cushion.

"I know Stephen plays well under pressure, and he needed to," said Dredge. "He hit the shot of the day for his birdie at 17.

"Obviously my eagle also made a lot of difference, though."

Dodd, who produced four birdies, said his three-wood approach into the island green on 17 to set up a two-putt gave him "great satisfaction".

He added: "But we combined really well, which is the key to fourballs."

While the $700,000 on offer for the two winners on Sunday would represent the biggest prize of their respective careers, the two Welshmen are more motivated to add their country's name to the World Cup honours list for a second time.

"It's been 18 years, so it's time for that second win," said Dredge.

England lost a chance of being one shot closer to the leaders when David Howell three-putted for par from 40 feet on 17 after his partner Luke Donald had missed a five-footer for eagle.

However, the pair remain well-placed to secure a third World Cup win for England and the second in a row.

"It was very frustrating and I'm struggling to calm down," said Howell. "You have to capitalise on all your chances."

Donald added: "We're both very good putters and I'm sure we're going to putt great tomorrow."

Sweden's Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson came in with a late finishing burst, picking up four shots over the last five holes, but Fasth was left to rue a missed chance at the last where he missed a seven-foot putt.

"You always feel it should have dropped, but we'll save that one for tomorrow, when it really matters," said Fasth.

Sweden are hunting a second World Cup crown, following the 1991 success by Anders Forsbrand and Per-Ulrik Johansson in Rome, Italy.

France ended day three five strokes off the lead in fourth place, one shot ahead of Denmark. Argentina, who broke the foursomes record by a stroke with a 61 on Friday, were a further stroke back in a tie for fifth at 20 under with the Netherlands.

Argentina's Angel Cabrera had to opt out of the 14th while receiving treatment on his wrist, which he strained while playing a practice swing.

However, the big-hitting Cabrera hopes he will be fully fit for Sunday's final round of foursomes.

World Cup officials were banking on resuming normal play for Sunday after heavy overnight rain forced them to operate preferred lies on Saturday.

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