Two closing birdies, including a penultimate hole monster 40-footer, handed Scot David Law a six-way share of the lead heading to the final round of the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.
Law, 30, was struggling at one-over for his round through 13 holes before draining the lengthy putt at the par-3 17th and then two-putting the last from 46-feet also for birdie, in a round of a one-under 72 and a six-under tally on the tough Green Eagle course.
Scot David Law sharing the drivers seat with five other heading to the final round of the Porsche European Open
Six players – Law, England’s Jordan Smith (72), Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin (72), Swede Alexander Bjork (69), Dane John Axelsen (69) and Frenchman Julien Guerrier (67) – share top honours in the £stg 1.6m event.
Of the six, Smith must be favoured with two Tour wins and at No. 101, is the highest world ranked of the half-dozen however in the past few years the Porsche winner has come from behind.
Law, however, clearly has the bit between his teeth as the Aberdonian also seeks a second Tour success after a long four-year wait since his breakthrough win in early 2019 ‘Down Under‘
He said: “Yes, it’s a bunched leader-board and anything can happen, and it’s all about being there when the moment comes.
“It would be great to now get my hands on the trophy, as it’s been an excellent tournament, with the crowds out here brilliant, and it’s been a while since I last won, so it would be special now to be handed the trophy”.
Law was one-over for the day through 13 holes, after two birdies and also three bogeys, and singled out his fellow Scot and caddie Max Bill for keeping him focussed.
He said: “I played pretty good on the front nine but then had a bad stretch there in the middle and with my caddie Max saying that is always going to happen.
“So, to hole the birdie putt on 17 and then to birdie the last was very important”.
Bearsden’s Ewen Ferguson also birdied at the last in a one-over 72 is just two back of the lead as he targets a first win this year, and the third of his Tour career.
He said: “It was a nice way to finish as I just grinded away, and didn’t play amazing but battled on and just tried to produce the best round I could.
“If you shoot under par on this golf course, you’ve done quite well because it can make you look very silly.
“So, I’m not too disheartened and will go, try and play well tomorrow and hopefully shoot a low one, as that’s all I can do”.
And Oban lefty Robert MacIntyre felt the hurt posting a one-over 74 that included four birdies but five bogeys in his 74 to drop to one-under and just inside the top-20.
Fifer Connor Syme is one back at level par in signing for a three-under 69 that included a pair of birdies to both start and end his day’s work.
Scott Jamieson was also off to a good start with birdies at one and three before the course jumped-up to bite him, including a double on 10, in signing for a 75 and drop to one-over.
And a back injury forced Calum Hill out of teeing-up on day three, and lying at level par.
