Clarke aces to six shot lead

Darren Clarke fired his first ever hole-in-one as a professional to claim a commanding six-shot lead going into the final day of the Smurfit European Open.

The 30-year-old from Dungannon had a seemingly impossible task to follow his amazing exploits of yesterday when he equalled the lowest ever score on the European Tour with a brilliant 60, smashing the course record by four shots in the process.

But he still managed to bring the large crowds to their feet with his ace on the fifth hole on his way to a third round 66 and 17 under total of 199.

"I don't know what my next trick's going to be tomorrow," Clarke joked. "I just hope it keeps going.

"Things are just going for me. That's the only explanation and long may it continue."

The roar from the gallery could be heard around the course as Clarke's six iron from 205 yards pitched just short of the green before rolling unerringly towards the hole and disappearing for an eagle, the first as a professional after four in the amateur ranks.

"It was a nice soft six iron and the ball trickled gently in. The roar went up before it actually disappeared and it was pretty loud, a fantastic feeling," Clarke added.

That helped him reach the turn in 34 and he added further birdies at the 11th, 12th, 14th and 18th to leave the rest of the field trailing in his wake, his six-shot lead the largest on tour this season.

Australian Peter O'Malley was his closest challenger after an eagle on the last for a 68 and 11 under total of 205 with Lee Westwood a shot further back on 10 under, and Argentinian Jose Coceres and European number one Colin Montgomerie on nine under.

The day once again though belonged firmly to Clarke who has a second title of the year firmly in his grasp.

"If I can shoot four under someone will have to go very low to beat me," Clarke added. "But there's still another day's work to do. I have to lead again.

"Following yesterday was always going to be tough but I tried to focus on every shot and make the best score that I possibly could.

"To have that many people shouting and roaring for you was a fantastic feeling and hopefully I can give them more to cheer about.

"Most definitely to win at home in Ireland will mean more than the 60."

Eddie Irvine's win in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim completed a great day for Northern Ireland but Clarke was more concerned about the position of Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen following a good luck call on Saturday night from team boss Eddie Jordan.

"I haven't had a go in one of Eddie's cars but I'd love to," said the sports-car mad Clarke, owner of two Ferraris.

"I don't think my frame would fit in but I would diet for it. I'd have lumps of flesh cut off for a go!"

Westwood has not yet entirely given up hope of catching stablemate Clarke after coming from five shots behind last week to win the Dutch Open with a course-record equalling 63.

"I'd rather have been playing with Darren but if you can get off to a good start and put some pressure on it's easy to make four birdies to somebody's three bogeys out there.

"But when someone shoots 60 and then has a hole-in-one the next round you have to assume it's their week."

Order of Merit leader Montgomerie is one shot behind Westwood but will need a much improved display with the putter if he is to challenge for a fourth win of the season.

"I had 35 putts yesterday and 34 today," Montgomerie said. "You can't win doing that I'm afraid.

"I don't know how the rest of them are doing it because I can't get the ball in the hole.

"At the last I tried to be patient but hit the lip there as well. I hit every green and you can't do more than that but I had 34 putts in a 69."

Open champion Paul Lawrie continued his creditable display with a 72, Jean Van de Velde carded a 70 that was matched by Nick Faldo, while Sergio Garcia struggled to a 73.