Gonzalo grabs Scottish lead

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July 12, 2009

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano took the lead in the Barclays Scottish Open going into the final round at Loch Lomond.

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano produced what he called the best round of his life to take the third-round lead in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond today.
But much though he wants to win the £500,000 first prize tomorrow, there is something he wants more – his dog Petra to be found on the Costa del Sol.
The three-year-old shar pei has been lost since Thursday night after being frightened by fireworks outside his mother-in-law’s home in Marbella.
“We’ve had her for three years since she was a puppy, and my wife was crying when I spoke to her on the phone,” said Fernandez-Castano, after a seven-under-par 64 lifted him into a one-stroke advantage over German Martin Kaymer and South African Retief Goosen.
Asked if he would rather take his fifth European Tour title or be told the dog had been found the 28-year-old said: “Believe it or not, I am going to say find the dog – anything to see my wife happy.”
He is prepared to offer a reward, but hastened to add: “Not tomorrow’s cheque, that’s for sure.”
About to become a father for the first time in eight weeks’ time, the Madrid golfer “only” equalled the lowest round of his Tour career.
But the British Masters champion stated: “That’s the best ever – I’ve never struck the ball like that.
“Unfortunately my putting was not as good, but after a 64 I am not going to complain.
“It’s funny. On the range I couldn’t hit a shot. I hooked one five-iron 80 yards left of my target.”
On the course, though, he started with three birdies, converted another chance on the driveable ninth and posted three more birdies coming home.
Kaymer is looking for back-to-back wins following his French Open play-off success over Lee Westwood last Sunday – and he did not drop a stroke either in a 66.
Goosen had been two in front of Adam Scott overnight, but after a smooth start bogeyed the 10th and 13th.
A 69 was still far better than the Australian managed, however. Scott, watched again by tennis star Ana Ivanovic, mixed five birdies with five bogeys and a double bogey at the 415-yard 12th.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson moved up to joint fourth with Dane Soren Kjeldsen on 11 under, three behind, after a 65 – and is in position to claim the one Open Championship spot on offer.
Donaldson’s only top-10 finish this season was a fourth in Portugal over two months ago, but the 33-year-old has stayed positive waiting for the next chance to come along.
“What are you going to do – sulk like a baby or get on with it?” said the former amateur star, who partnered Luke Donald and Paul Casey to help Britain and Ireland to second place in the 2000 world team championship.
While they became instant stars on turning professional, Donaldson had serious back problems and lost his Tour card three years ago before regaining it through the Challenge circuit.
“There’s loads at stake, but I’m trying not to think about anything. One shot at a time, stay in the present.”
Fernandez-Castano did not have the only 64 of the day. Lee Westwood produced the other to continue his brilliant recovery from a chest infection, which almost forced him out on Thursday morning.
Colin Montgomerie and Rory McIlroy are on two under, the Scot just relieved to be playing – having left the course after his second round convinced he had missed the cut.
Montgomerie, who shot his second successive 69, got back in only because Swede Martin Erlandsson – needing a birdie at the final hole to knock him out – triple-bogeyed instead.
“You never want to miss a cut before a major,” said the 46-year-old Scot, who has done just that the last two years.
“I was watching the internet and saw that I was 66th, but it was a mistake – I was 65th and okay.
“I’m delighted to be still in the tournament. I didn’t want to have the weekend thinking about what to do or go to Turnberry and have people ask why I was there – because I missed the cut.
“The second-nine 31 yesterday (he birdied his last four holes to survive with nothing to spare) was good – and while I would not say I’m playing well enough to win next week, you never know.”
All the third round scores & totals in the European Tour The Barclays Scottish Open, Loch Lomond, Glasgow, Scotland.
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71):
199 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 65 70 64
200 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 63 69, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 69 65 66
202 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67 68 67, Jamie Donaldson 69 68 65
203 Marcus Fraser (Aus) 68 66 69, Lee Westwood 73 66 64
204 Brian Gay (USA) 70 69 65, Martin Laird 65 70 69
205 Ernie Els (Rsa) 69 69 67, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 69 70 66, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67 72 66
206 Nick Watney (USA) 67 68 71, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 68 71 67, Adam Scott (Aus) 66 67 73, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 70 67, Darren Clarke 69 69 68, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 70 69 67
207 Ross Fisher 69 67 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 70 71 66, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 67 71, David Lynn 70 72 65
208 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 67 73 68, Steve Webster 71 70 67, James Kingston (Rsa) 69 72 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 67 68 73, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 69 70 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 69, Anthony Wall 70 69 69, Paul Lawrie 68 72 68, Mark Foster 68 68 72
209 Gary Orr 70 68 71, Oliver Wilson 74 65 70, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 70 69 70, Kenneth Ferrie 67 68 74, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 71 69 69, Richard Green (Aus) 64 72 73, Ian Poulter 69 72 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 69 67 73, Christopher Doak 72 68 69, Peter O’Malley (Aus) 74 66 69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 67 70 72
210 Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 69 73, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 70 68 72, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 71 69
211 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 69 66 76, Jason McCreadie 70 67 74, Colin Montgomerie 73 69 69, Seve Benson 70 72 69, Rory McIlroy 68 71 72, Shane Lowry 69 71 71, Markus Brier (Aut) 69 69 73, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 70 69, Paul McGinley 65 71 75
212 Damien McGrane 71 68 73, David Drysdale 67 73 72, John Bickerton 72 69 71, Pablo Martin (Spa) 69 72 71, Graeme Storm 65 76 71
213 Graeme McDowell 70 72 71, Boo Weekley (USA) 71 70 72, Scott Drummond 70 71 72, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 68 72 73, Oliver Fisher 73 68 72
214 Lee Slattery 71 70 73, Miles Tunnicliff 70 72 72, Sam Little 70 72 72, Ross McGowan 67 72 75
215 Gary Lockerbie 69 73 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 70 71 74, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 70 69 76
216 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 71 70 75, Nick Dougherty 71 71 74, Scott Strange (Aus) 70 72 74, Paul Broadhurst 71 71 74
217 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 72 75, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 73 69 75