Round Three Report

England’s Nick Dougherty eagled the last hole to grab a share of the lead at the end of a rain-delayed third day of The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
 
After giving a highly entertaining Master Class to the fans on Friday afternoon, Dougherty appeared to have left all his skills on the driving range as four successive bogeys saw him turn in 40 strokes.
 
But the popular young Englishman stormed back after rain delays had held up play on Saturday to shoot three birdies in a row on the back nine and then finish with his masterful eagle three on the treacherous 18^{th to} reach five under par and top the leaderboard alongside Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl and Ignacio Garrido of Spain.
 
Dougherty always feels comfortable at The Celtic Manor Resort where he revealed earlier in the week that he had enjoyed some fantastic times with his late mother.
 
He said: “I backed myself, which is something I’ve not done for a year. I deserved the good results I got and my putter got hot again. If you trust yourself there’s a good chance it will happen.”
 
After heavy overnight and morning rain delayed Saturday’s start until 2pm, only the overnight leaders Richie Ramsay, Ross Fisher and Robert Rock remained out on the course with two holes to finish when play was suspended at about 9pm. They will complete their third rounds on Sunday morning.
 
It was a testament to the improved drainage of The Twenty Ten Course and the hard work of the greenkeeping team at The Celtic Manor Resort that play was able to start at all after two inches of rain had fallen overnight and into the morning.
 
Scotsman Ramsay remains in the hunt for the £300,000 first prize just one shot behind at four under par alongside English duo Simon Dyson and Paul Waring.
 
No fewer than seven players share seventh place a further stroke adrift on three under par and they include Ryder Cup stars Paul McGinley and Niclas Fasth and former Volvo Masters champion Jeev Milkha Singh from India.
 
On a congested leaderboard, Fisher and fellow in-form Englishmen Robert Rock and Chris Wood are two under, past winner Miguel Angel Jiménez is one under and Rhys Davies leads the Welsh challenge at level par.
 
Tickets for an exciting last day are available on the gate. Back