Golf: Course record lifts Scahill to the lead

New Zealander Stephen Scahill was locked in a three-way tie for the lead at the end of the third round of the Benson and Hedges Open yesterday.

Scahill, Irishman Padraig Harrington and Englishman Paul Casey were on 10 under, one shot clear of defending champion Angel Cabrera, of Argentina.

Scahill, who equalled the course record of 65, and Casey (66), the European 2001 rookie of the year, made the most significant steps on a cold, wet day at The Belfry, as they posted aggregate totals of 206 alongside Harrington, who carded a 71.

Cabrera bogeyed the last for a 70 that left him three shots clear of Dutchman Rolf Muntz in fifth.

Scahill, 33, came roaring through the field with seven birdies in a blemish-free round as he continued his efforts to earn a Tour card.

"It was a disappointment to lose the card," Scahill said. "But even though I played well for much of last year and made a lot of cuts, at the weekends I got a bit anxious.

"This year I'm planning each week on how to play each course individually instead of just working on my swing."

Scahill equalled the course record set by Barry Lane and Adam Scott last year. After going out in 32, he made further birdies at the 11th, the 12th and 16th, where he put his approach to two centimetres.

"It's probably the best round I've played in the circumstances, especially with it being cold and miserable."

Harrington is trying to atone for what happened three years ago when he was disqualified minutes before his final round with a five-shot lead after it was discovered he had not signed his first-round card.

The 31-year-old world No 10 admitted to "scrambling" and was relieved to still be ahead after an indifferent day.

"My ambition before this season was to improve my short game so that when I have off-days like today, I can still make a score," he said.

"I'm a big threat to myself; I worry much more about myself than anybody else. I can't control what they are doing. I've got to do my own thing."

Casey is looking for a first win in his home country after taking the Scottish PGA title in 2001.

He looked as though he would win the Spanish Open a fortnight ago, but lost his way on the final day, losing a ball up a palm tree and having to settle for a tie for sixth place.

* American David Toms put himself on course for his first PGA Tour title in 20 months yesterday, firing a six-under 66 for a five-shot lead in the third round of the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The 2001 PGA champion produced the best score of the day to finish at 11-under 205, well clear of J. P. Hayes, who shot 72, Kirk Triplett, 67, and Robert Gamez, 71, who were tied for second.

Zimbabwe's Nick Price, who had led or shared the lead through the first two rounds, slipped back with a third-round 74 and was among a group of five at 211.

Level with former world No 1 Price were Spike McRoy, Fred Funk, Brent Geiberger and Charles Howell.

Fred Couples, the co-leader with Price after the first round, also faltered with a 74 and was among seven players, including world No 6 Vijay Singh, tied for 10th on 212.

Toms, 36, got off to a fast start, picking up a shot at the first hole and adding further birdies at six and seven to reach the turn in three-under 33. He then chipped for an eagle at the par-five 10th.

He had a bogey at the 11th, birdied 15 and 16, and then made good par-saving putts on the last two holes.

Toms was surprised at the size of his lead after 54 holes.

New Zealanders Michael Campbell, Steve Alker, Craig Perks and Phil Tataurangi missed the second-round cut.

- AGENCIES