Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello opened the door to his rivals when he squandered a two shot lead to end day three tied with England’s Steve Webster on 12-under par in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Cabrera-Bello posted a one over par 73 to Webster’s score of 70 on the Doha Golf Club course.
The 29-year old Spaniard began the day leading by two on 13-under par and in fact went three shots clear with a birdie at the second hole.
However Cabrera-Bello played the next 10 holes in level par before dropping shots at 13 and 15.
French rookie Adrien Saddier the biggest mover on day three of Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“I didn’t think I played that bad,” said Cabrera-Bello.
“I’m a bit disappointed for not keeping a few shots ahead of the pack like I started the day.
“On the back nine, I didn’t quite make the birdie putts as I did yesterday, but overall, I could have won it today.
“It would have been nicer to be a few shots ahead from everybody but it hasn’t worked out that way. I’m still on top of the leaderboard and still people need to try and catch me.”
Webster, who is looking to win for a first time in over six years, was two over par after five holes but then played his next 12 in four under.
“I don’t know what happened at first as I was hitting it really good on the range but then I think I got a bit cocky on the course and the first six holes was like I had never played golf before,” he said.
“My last win was in Portugal in ’07 so it’s been too long.”
Frenchman Adrien Saddier was the biggest mover on day three coming from 45th position in teeing off and race up the board with six birdies in his opening SEVEN holes in a round of 64 to be tied in third place with South African Thomas Aiken (70) and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen (68) on 11-under par.
The 21-year old Saddier and ranked 720th in the world is competing in his rookie European Tour season having come through all three stages to graduate sixth in the Tour’s Qualifying School.
The Annemasse-born golfer has already shown his potential finishing sixth in his third event of the 2013/14 wraparound season at last month’s Nelson Mandella Championship in South Africa.
“I feel very well, very happy to be playing on the European Tour but this is only my first full year as a professional after I turned pro last July,” he said.
Saddier’s round was five shots fewer than his previous Tour low of 69 when competing as an amateur in the 2012 European Masters in Switzerland.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie (69) is a further shot back, among three at 10-under par, and looking to become the first three-time Qatari champion.
European No. 1 Henrik Stenson had a long session on the range under coach, Pete Cowen’s guidance after shooting 74 for a three over total.
Fellow former European No. 1s Ernie Els (71) and Luke Donald (74) failed to impress with respective two under par and one under par totals.
And reigning PGA Champion, Jason Dufner slumped to equal second last place at three over par following his round of 78 that included just one birdie but also seven bogeys.
