Campillo leads at Qatar Masters

Doha: Jorge Campillo carded a third round 67 to take a one-shot lead into the final day of the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Yesterday at the Education City Golf Club course, the Spaniard began by picking up five shots in six holes around the turn to move three ahead.

However, a pair of bogeys on the back nine in the increasing wind meant he came home in level par for a 14-under total, just one clear of Scot David Drysdale and Dane Jeff Winther.

“It was tough, especially the last four holes into the wind, so it wasn’t playing easy at all. The front nine wasn’t windy, it was playing easy, and the back nine was tough. I missed a few short putts but overall a good last three holes,” Campillo said.

“I am in a good position for tomorrow but still 18 holes to go. It is going to be a tough day tomorrow, but I am glad with the position I am in right now because I wasn’t playing good, so being leader after three days after the last few weeks is nice,” the 33-year-old said.

“If I had not won a golf tournament already I would have been a little bit nervous coming into tomorrow, but since I have won, it is a little bit more familiar, so I will still be a little nervous but hopefully tomorrow I can play as good as today and win,” added the Real Madrid fan.

Drysdale was bogey free in a 64, while Winther also made seven birdies with a single dropped shot in a 65.

Spectators enjoy action yesterday.

“I was pretty aggressive off the tee (at the 17th), I hit driver, most guys would hit three wood off there. Got it down on a good number, 160 into the breeze, and it was perfect - four inches short. That’s the sort of birdie putt you like,” Drysdale said.

Drysdale and wife Vicky have formed one of the European Tour’s most famous teams and they will head into the final round looking for victory at the 498th attempt.

“I started quite well, I was four under through six holes and I just holed a couple of nice putts. In the middle of the round I struggled a wee bit and hit a lot to 40 or 50 feet but managed to two putt them and move on and capitalise on my good shots,” added the 44-year-old.

“It was good fun, it’s my birthday in a couple of weeks so we’re (him and Vicky) getting older together but we’re enjoying each other’s company on the golf course,” he said.

Drysdale played his first European Tour event in 1999 and while Vicky may have only been on the bag for the past few seasons, they have formed a formidable pairing and achieved him a third runner up finish at the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Championship.

“The first couple of seasons worked very well. I haven’t played the best the last 14 months or so, I’ve been grinding away, but we haven’t fallen out yet,” Drysdale said.

Winther, an avid fisherman, who takes his rod in his golf bag to every tournament aiming to seek out local waters was happy with the scores.

“We had good fun, good playing partners are always good to have and you can lean on your caddie as well. We just enjoyed it and played very well. I putted very well as well and that’s a big factor,” the 31-year-old said.

“It’s wide and I like it. I need a bit of help off the tee at the moment but otherwise than that I really like it. The greenkeepers have done very well this week, it’s phenomenal to putt on,” he added.

“I’ll keep doing the same. I’m going to try not to think about it and it’ll be exciting. I look forward to it,” he said.

Dane Benjamin Poke was 12-under, a shot clear of Swede Alexander Bjork and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal. Larrazabal made two eagles and six birdies as he matched the lowest round of the week -- and the fledgling course record -- with a 63, while Bjork made three birdies and a bogey in a 69.

Finn Kalle Samooja and England’s Jack Senior were at ten under a shot clear of India’s SSP Chawrasia, Englishmen Marcus Armitage and Andy Sullivan, Belgian Thomas Detry and Scotland’s Scott Jamieson.

Chawrasia added a three-under 69 to the 67 and 69 he had shot on the first two days.

He had four birdies on the front and one more on the back and a bogey on either side.

The four-time European Tour winner had carded a 67 at last week’’s final round at Oman Open and he has now shot four successive rounds in 60s and another good one could see him have a solid finish, a best finish for an Indian golfer at the Qatar tournament.

“It was a good day. I was looking for more birdies but did not come, overall it was a good score today. Hope to continue in the same vein on the last day,” said the 41 year-old.