If Paul Lawrie should end a nine-year winless drought on the Costa del Sol he will have two spectators to thank after finishing with a one-stroke lead on day three of the Andalucian Open reports Fatiha ‘Tour Miss’ Betscher.

The former Open Champion recorded a five-under par 65 to move to 12-under par and deny the England pair of Kenneth Ferrie and Mark Foster at 11-under par on the Parador Malaga course.

Ferrie became the 15^th Tour player to shoot 60 in recording an eagle and eight birdies including a pair to finish for his 10-under par total.

“The old squirrel occasionally finds the odd acorn,” said the 32-year old Ferrie.

Ferrie then enjoyed the clubhouse lead for more than four hours before Lawrie landed a lob-wedge to just six inches for birdie at the 17^th.

Lawrie had began his round one stroke from the lead at seven under par but was soon on the move with birdies at the second, fifth and sixth holes.

Then at the par three, 13th Lawrie’s tee shot ricocheted off a male spectator and back onto the green.

While pleased not to have run down an embankment, Lawrie was disappointed when his birdie putt failed to drop.

“I said to my caddy that it just typical of Tour players that the ball bounces off the guys head and lands on the green and you moan when the birdie lips out,” he said.

“He was okay and not injured, and I gave him two golf balls.”

Then after birdies and 14 and Lawrie had to stop an attractive female spectator from stepping on his ball after an errant drive into trees down the right side of the 18^th from where he again managed to save par and retain the lead.

“My last win was the 2005 Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles on the Tartan Tour but I haven’t won on the main Tour here since Wales nine years ago,” said Lawrie.

“So it’s been a long time but then I am not thinking about winning.”