Peugeot Open de España
El Prat
Barcelona, Spain
23rd - 26th April 1998

Par 72 Prize Money £550,000

Third Round Report

Third Round Scores
Second Round Report
Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Chalmers still leads despite final hole stumble

Barcelona, Spain, 25th April 1998 - José Maria Olazábal shot a 64 and moved into contention to win his home Open de España for the first time as leader Greg Chalmers of Australia stumbled at the final hole of the third round on Saturday.

Chalmers had stormed back into the lead he had shared with compatriot Robert Allenby after two rounds by picking up five shots in four holes from the 14th but a dropped stroke at the last left him only one shot ahead of the field and just two in front of Olazábal.

A three-under-par 69 took Chalmers to 17-under-par 199, a stroke in front of Allenby, Japanese Katsuyoshi Tomori and England's David Howell.

But the biggest threat to the Australian lifting his first European Tour title could well come from Olazábal who became the fifth player to card a 64. It left the Spaniard on 201, level with Thomas Bjørn of Denmark.

Chalmers looked to be well in command as he recovered from a poor start with an eagle and three birdies on the back nine.

But on the 18th Chalmers drove into the umbrella-pines and could only chip out. He found the green but then three-putted from 30ft, missing a four-foot effort which would have salvaged par.

"I thought the first putt was a good one and also the second, but it wasn't to be," said Chalmers. "I was tied at the start of the day though, and now I'm in front, so I can't be unhappy."

Allenby lost the lead when he double-bogeyed the 15th but remains right in contention as he bids for victory 15 months after a horrifying car accident which broke his sternum and threatened his career.

Howell, who three-putted the last to deny himself a share of the lead, and Tomori, playing only his second European Tour event of the year, are also seeking their first tour successes.

Tomori, 33, is in his second European year and found form after missing the cut last week in his opening event.

"I was just warming up again last week," said Tomori, who has solved his homesickness problem of last year by bringing his wife on tour this year.

"I'm a bit more European-wise now because I've been learning English while I've been at home and I'm feeling confident because I'm back to playing how I used to back in Japan."

Olazábal collected six birdies and an eagle to boost his chances.

"My game is not in as good shape as I'd like even with a 64 because I'm still not comfortable standing over the ball," said Olazábal.

"But my putting was the key and if I can hole the putts again I have chance to win. I'd love to win. It would be a pity to win major events and not win your own national open title."