Golf-Hedblom repeats last week’s feat to snatch lead (Reuters)
August 29, 2009
* Swede leads way at Gleneagles
* Lawrie one shot off the pace
(adds Donaldson quotes)
By Norman Dabell
GLENEAGLES, Scotland, Aug 29 (Reuters) – Sweden’s PeterHedblom went to the top of the leaderboard for the secondsuccessive Saturday to seize the initiative after the JohnnieWalker Championship third round.
Hedblom returned a four-under-par 68 for an eight-undertotal of 208, one ahead of 1999 British Open champion PaulLawrie (73) who led for the opening two days.
Two late bogeys dropped Lawrie to seven-under, a strokebetter than fellow Britons Steven O’Hara (66) and JamieDonaldson (70), Frenchman Gregory Bourdy (71) and 2008 Ryder Cupplayer Soren Hansen (71) of Denmark.
Hedblom held a two-shot advantage going into the final roundof last week’s Dutch Open before losing out to Briton SimonDyson in a playoff that also included Irishman Peter Lawrie.
The 39-year-old Swede said he had to scramble to get inenough practice before his third round at Gleneagles afterstaying too long in his hotel gymnasium.
However, the short practice routine did not prevent Hedblomoverhauling Scot Lawrie on a windy day on the Centenary coursethat will host the 2014 Ryder Cup.
MORE RELAXED
“Sometimes I’ve struggled the week after playing good,”Hedblom told reporters. “But I seem to have brought all theconfidence I got last week.
“I’m sure I’m going to be more relaxed tomorrow than lastweek when I had worries about keeping my (European Tour) card. Ifeel I didn’t so much lose as Simon won, anyway.”
Hedblom is seeking his third tour title while Lawrie is keento end a seven-year victory drought.
“I’m playing well and looking forward to the last round,”said Lawrie. “I can’t remember when I last went out in the finalround in the last group.”
Donaldson said the players found it tricky coping with theweather conditions.
“It was pretty blowy all day, we had quite a bit of rain offand on,” said the Welshman.
“You don’t have to go ballistic. You’ve just got to know howto do it I suppose and put yourself in positions.”
The 13th hole proved a calamitous one for British rookieJonathan Caldwell, who had been joint second overnight.
The Northern Irishman four-putted there from only two feetfor a triple-bogey seven as he slid to a 76 for 214.
Jose Maria Olazabal, who was also in the title huntovernight, bogeyed the last four holes for a 77 and 216, thesame tally as Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie (72).
(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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