Cabrera-Bello chasing down Bourdy

bruced
June 13, 2015

Gregory Bourdy still leads by two after the third round of the Lyoness Open despite some pressure from Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

By the end of Saturday’s round at Diamond Country Club in Austria, Bourdy’s four-shot overnight lead had been halved, as Cabrera-Bello charged up the leaderboard with a six-under-par 66.

Bourdy stayed solid, however, to remain firmly in contention for a wire-to-wire win.

The Frenchman started with a birdie at the first to settle his nerves and then added two more before making his only bogey of the day at the par-5 15th – though he would get that shot back immediately at the very next hole to sign for a 69 and a 15 under par total.

Cabrera-Bello, meanwhile, started like a house on fire, playing his first seven holes in five under par under thanks to three birdies and an eagle-two at the fourth after he holed out from the fairway.

The players were taken off the course for a 95-minute break due to the threat of lightning, and the interruption would halt the Spaniard’s momentum.

His play would be more erratic on the back nine, with three birdies being mixed with two bogeys, but the end result was still a 66 and a place in Sunday’s final group.

“It was a really good day for me – I got off to an amazing start with a birdie at the first and then holing out for eagle at the third. Also making two birdies on the par fives – the 15th and 16th on the back nine – was really important for my confidence and to close the gap on Greg going into tomorrow,” said Cabrera-Bello, a champion at this event six years ago.

Leader Bourdy said: “It was another good round because it was difficult today, especially with the suspension of play so three under was a good score.

“After the delay the wind was a bit stronger which made it a bit more difficult but I think I did quite well at the end.

“I am in a good position – it’s always nice to be two ahead going into the final round, but it will be a tough day and I am sure it will be an exciting day playing with Rafa who is a great guy.

“I’ll relax tonight and have a nice dinner and get ready for tomorrow.”

Lying in third, five shots behind Bourdy, is Englishman Chris Wood (70), while fellow Brits Scott Jamieson (65) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (69) are a shot further back in a tie for fourth.

American John Hahn (68) and Finland’s Mokko Korhonen (70) are tied for sixth on eight under.

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