Echenique holds one shot lead in Paris
Colin Montgomerie showed he could still play with the best
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Saturday, 04, Jul 2009 08:22
Argentinian Rafa Echenique faces a battle to win his first European Tour title as he will take a slender one shot lead into the final round of the French Open.
Echenique, who carded excellent rounds of 65 and 67 in the first two rounds of the event, could only manage a one-under 70 today. The28-year-old started badly with a bogey on the first hole. Two birdies, a bogey and eight consecutive pars saw him finish on 11-under-par.
First round leader Martin Kaymer hit a round of two-under-par 69 and is in second place, while England's Paul Waring putted an eagle and three birdies in his round of 68 to take third on nine-under-par.
Lee Westwood, who started with a double bogey on the second, recovered with four birdies to finish four shots off the lead at seven-under-par, while his fellow Englishman Ian Poulter is one shot behind on six-under.
The round of the day came from Europe Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who showed some great form to card a round of six-under-par 65.
"That's what I used to do," said Montgomerie. "I've been making far too many mistakes - there were a load of crazy ones on Friday - and it starts with hitting fairways.
"If I do that I can play to my strength, my iron play. This was a very important round for me going forward and I've just got to keep at it hoping it will come back one day.
"That seven killed things off here (in the last hole of the second round). I've now got to move up as high as I can - I don't need the money, but I need the points."