Golf: Solid finish puts Irish Open within Dougherty’s grasp

MAYNOOTH - Britain's Nick Dougherty is on the brink of his second European Tour victory of the year after regaining the lead in the Irish Open third round yesterday.

Joint leader after the first day, the 22-year-old Englishman fired a five-under 67 to finish at nine-under 207 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round.

Dougherty said he believed he was in a better position yesterday than when he won his maiden European Tour title at the Singapore Masters in January

His compatriots David Howell, who carded a 69, and tour rookie Oliver Wilson, whose course-record 66 was inspired by two back-nine eagle-twos, shared second place.

Overnight leader Stephen Dodd, after a 72, was a further two strokes back in a tie for fourth with South African Andrew McLardy (68) and Portugal's Jose Filipe Lima (69).

"I won't be concerned what the others are doing, I'm just going to go out and try to play like I did on the last day in Singapore," said Dougherty, who forged ahead of the pack with three birdies in the last six holes.

"It helps that I know I can win. I was in a tougher position there [in Singapore] because I hadn't won before."

Wilson charged into contention by holing his nine-iron approach from 127m for an eagle on the 11th and then driving the green at the par-four 13th to set himself up for eagle number two.

He finished with a 1m putt at the last to equal the course record of 66 set earlier by South African Titch Moore.

"I was just plodding along when I holed out on the 11th from absolutely nowhere and that got me going," said the 2003 Walker Cup player.

The ambitious 24-year-old is looking to improve on his career-best tie for seventh place at the New Zealand Open in February.

"It's tough," he said. "I've got a little more at stake than some players out there, they've been there plenty of times and won a lot and I'm trying to get to that stage."

Tournament favourite Padraig Harrington birdied four of the last six holes for a 68 to finish six strokes off the lead.

Despite almost having to pull out of the tournament with perennial neck problems, the Irishman still has a chance of becoming the first home winner of the event since John O'Leary in 1982.

Colin Montgomerie's bid for a US Open place may now rest on his performance next week in the BMW Championship at Wentworth after he plummeted down the field with a 75 to lie 12 strokes off the lead.

Montgomerie, 54th in the world rankings, needs to be back in the world's top 50 by the end of next week's tournament to avoid going to US Open qualifying at Walton Heath in England on June 6.

The seven-times European number one, who also missed last year's US Open and this season's US Masters, said he was not too bothered by his precarious position.

Of his third-round 75, he said: "Crap, generally very bad. I've gone from 17th to 49th place, do you expect me to be happy?"

- REUTERS