The Scottish duo of Richie Ramsay and Grant Forrest are going to need all the luck of the Irish if they’re to secure a place into next week’s Open Championship.
Ramsay grabbed a vital birdie ‘4’ at the 17th in a round of 70 while Forrest walked off with a gut-wrenching closing hole double-bogey ‘6’ in his round of 73 and drop back into a tie with Ramsay in sharing seventh place on 10-under par.
Forrest was tied in third place coming down the last but found water off the tee and then horribly three-putted.
Aussie Lucas Herbert continues to lead the way adding a ‘moving day’ 70 for a one-shot lead at 15-under par and now looking to achieve something that then World No. 1 and countryman Greg Norman was denied by Scot Sam Torrance 26-years ago when the Irish Open was last staged at Mount Juliet.
Aussie Lucas Herbert continues to show the way heading into the final round of the DDF Irish Open
American Johannes Veerman signed for a 67 to be in second place at 14-under par and two shots clear of South African Justin Harding, who finished eagle and birdie in a 65 and move to 12-under.
There are then three players sharing fourth place on 11-under and then five, including the Scottish pair tied in seventh spot.
Of the leading seven, that includes Ramsay and Forrest, there is just two already exempt into The Open, including Harding and Aussie Jason Scrivener and tied in seventh.
As well, England’s Dale Whitnell, and sharing fourth, has been ruled out given he competed in last Tuesday’s Open Championship Final Qualifier but failed to win through to Royal St. George’s
It means Ramsay and Forrest are facing a big ask but each is definitely up for the task.
Grant Forrest rocked in walking off with a double bogey at the final hole on day three of the DDF Irish Open
Ramsay said: “Earning a place into the Open Championship is a huge incentive, no doubt about but in saying that, I’m prepared to try my hardest tomorrow.
“I haven’t played an Open for a few years now but in returning to Ireland this week, I’ve had a good record here both as an amateur and I then had a great chance of winning the 2017 Irish Open at Portstewart.
“So, I’ve always enjoyed my golf in Ireland and it would be nice to finish off tomorrow on a strong note and secure one of the Open spots.
“I’ve been fortunate to play Sandwich before and the fairways are very difficult to fit. I feel like you have to shape shots and that’s the kind of course that would suit my game really well”.
Forrest was headed straight to the range post his round and like Ramsay he also would dearly love to be competing at Royal St. George’s.
Forrest said: “Playing the Open would be amazing. My first time (2013), I was a 19-year-old amateur and my second time was 2018 at Carnoustie.
“So that’s kind of one of the perks if tomorrow goes well.
“I’m just trying to take care of business and will do a little bit of work on the range and going to get some physio and rest up for tomorrow.”
The trio of Aberdonian David Law (72), Fifer Connor Syme (71) and Glaswegian Marc Warren (70) share 35th place on five-under par.
