Scotland’s Connor Syme brilliantly holed a last hole birdie to regain a share of the lead heading to the final round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
In conditions not too dissimilar to those that almost ruined the 2010 Ryder Cup, all players battled a difficult mix of driving rain and continuing blustery conditions in a ‘preferred lie’ rule in place on the Twenty-Ten course.
Sweden’s Sebastain Soderberg was one of just two players inside the top-20 to tame the weather and not to drop shot in producing a three-under par 68 and head to the clubhouse at seven-under par.
Syme, 25 was in the last group and after dropping a shot off the lead with a 15th hole bogey, the Drumoig golfer holed a 18-footer for birdie at the 18th and for a third day in succession in a one-under par 70 to join his Swedish rival also at seven-under 206 tally.
In fact, Syme’s final putt ran around the hole before falling in through the ‘back door’ and much to the delight of the Scot.
The duo is three shots clear of Finland’s Sami Valimaki (67) at four-under par.
Syme said: “I’m finding myself in the same position as last week and I’ll just try and do the same stuff I’ve been doing all week.
Connor Syme holes an 18-foot birdie putt at the last to regain a share of the third round lead at Celtic Manor
“I don’t think it’s going to be quite as windy tomorrow but it’s a different challenge with that compared to last week.
“It would be amazing to win having come close last week. You don’t really know how many times you’ll get those opportunities so it’s another one tomorrow.
“If it doesn’t happen it’s not the end of the world but hopefully I’m going to play well tomorrow and give myself a chance
Syme, and wearing a standout crimson-coloured top, is seeking a first Tour victory in his 52nd Tour appearance plus also seeking to join Paul Lawrie (2002) as a second Scot to win the Wales Open title.
As well, there is double prize on offer of a tee-time in next month’s US Open should Syme finish top-10 on a mini money-list ending at the close of today’s event.
He currently lies ninth and needs to finish top-five to be assured of heading to Winged Foot.
Also, victory would hand Syme a first in the near 50-year history of the European Tour in that this week is the first occasion since the inception of the Tour they have played the same course a week apart.
Sodenberg captured golf headlines 53 weeks ago in claiming a maiden European Tour title with a winning birdie at the first extra hole to deny Rory McIlroy and three others for the Omega European Masters title in Switzerland.
McIlroy arrived in the Swiss Alps on the back of capturing a week earlier the PGA Tour end-of-season victory double of the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.
Syme went into day three leading by two and the Scot got off to a great start in holing a monster 30-footer at the first hole for birdie.
He should have gone three shots clear of his rivals in missing a three-footer for birdie at the par-3 and fortunately none of the six players, including fellow Scot Liam Johnston who had been tied in second place at the close of two rounds, also failed to birdie the hole.
At this stage, the rain was coming down sideways and it was a case of keeping the bogeys off the scorecard.
Syme did this in making the turn at one-under in also adding eight straight pars.
He dropped a first shot of the round in finding a fairway bunker short of the par-5 11th to fall a shot behind Soderberg and this after Syme had played the 11th in four-under during the course of the prior six days.
Syme drew level at seven-under par with the Swede in birdieing the par-4 14th and in contrast to the 11th, it was just a second birdie in seven rounds at 14.
But no sooner had Syme regained the initiative he gave the shot back at the next, the par-4 15th to again trail his 29-year old rival.
Calum Hill (68) and Craig Howie (69) are next best of the Scots in sharing 11th spot at one-under par.
And Johnston slipped from his Friday night share of second and now heads to the final round tied in 21st place after a score of 75 for a level par tally.
