Australia’s Wade Ormsby is set to celebrate his 200th European Tour event in style after muscling his way to a one stroke lead on day three of the Turkish Airlines Open in Belek.
Ormsby, 34 brilliantly eagled his ninth hole in round of a four under par 68 to move one stroke clear of his rivals at 12-under par on the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course.
The Adelaide-born golfer, who has won since turning pro in 2001, took full advantage of Ian Poulter’s indifferent display after the Englishman let slip a six-shot second round lead with a horror third day 75 for an 11-under par total.
Fellow Englishman Lee Westwood holed his second shot at the seventh hole for eagle and then birdied the last in a score of 67 to finish tied with Poulter.
Aussie Wade Ormsby on top in his 200th Tour event at the Turkish Airlines Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Ormsby was the fourth last player into this week’s $US 7m event having arrived in Turkey lying 78th on the European Race to Dubai and ranked a lowly 264th in the world.
This year marks the first time the Formula One and V8 Supercar Series race fan will have retained full Tour playing rights since 2005.
In between Ormsby has not earned enough to retain his card and that’s necessitated return visits to the Tour’s Q-School.
“I’ve been to the Tour School so many times the past few seasons I think I’ve got my own locker,” he joked.
However after capturing last year’s Asian Tour Panasonic Open in India, and the event he defended last week, Ormsby is on the verge of into the top-10 on the Race to Dubai should he succeed in Turkey.
It also mean entry into next week’s season-finale DP World Tour Championship, a start in next year’s British Open and a number of the lucrative WGC events.
“I was due to fly to Melbourne next week and play in the Australian Masters but then I would be delighted to change my flight to Dubai,” he said.
“However I’ve been playing well the last two years because after losing my European Tour card at the end of 2011 I started playing more on the Asian Tour and had my first victory last year that was nice.
“I then got my card back for the European Tour at the Tour School at the end of last year so I’ve been able to play a full schedule this year in Europe.
“And having that first win last year I am sure is going to help me tomorrow. All we are trying to do each week out on tour is to get yourself in position where you have a chance at winning.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the Asian Tour or here on the European Tour as it’s the same process, so all I can do tomorrow is draw on my good experiences the past two seasons.”
The abandoning of any further play on Thursday afternoon due to thunderstorms meant the second round did not conclude to near lunch on Saturday and with Poulter in a commanding position.
However a third round including just two birdies but also three bogeys and a 15th hole double bogey where he hit a tree with a wedge second shot sees the current World No. 40 ending the day one behind.
“It was a little disappointing as my rhythm was off right from the get‑go,” said Poulter.
“I wasn’t aggressive enough. I made mistakes, and notably on 15. That was a real lack of judgment there that led to a double‑bogey, which was a real shame.
“I’ve now brought a lot of players back into the fray. Their dinner is going to taste lovely tonight and mine is going to taste horrible.”
Both Westwood and Siem are looking to win for a second time this year and if Siem should succeed it would his second victory in the Final Four Series.
If so, it would put the German in contention to deny Rory McIlroy next week’s Race to Dubai No. 1 crown.
And American John Daly has not ruled himself out of a first victory in just over a decade after a five under par 67 moved himself into a share of eighth place at eight under par and just four shots off the lead.
