Ewen Ferguson (Scotland) put himself in pole position for a second DP World Tour victory of the season as he retained the lead after a round of 68 on day three of the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Aviv Clinics at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
Winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters held at Doha Golf Club, Qatar, in March, Ferguson again showed the battling qualities which had served him on day two where his level par round at the Massereene Golf Club followed a course record nine under par 61 on day one at Galgorm Castle.
Double bogey
This week’s event in Northern Ireland is tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, with separate male and female tournaments being played on the same two courses at the same time and for two equal prize funds of $1.5million each.
Italian amateur Filippo Celli emerged from the pack to challenge Ferguson as an eagle on the fourth saw him claim the lead on 11 under before a double bogey on nine saw him drop back to four off the lead.
Ferguson went further ahead on 10 with a birdie but bogeys on 14 and 15 trimmed his advantage before a birdie on the last saw him sign for a 68 and a lead of three going into the final day.
American John Catlin, winner of the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, had a round of 66 to move up to second, with a four way tie for third on seven under involving Spaniard Borja Virto, Denmark’s Marcus Helligkilde, Scotland’s Connor Syme and England’s Jack Senior.
Ferguson said, “It becomes a bit tough and you just need to try and grind it. I kind of accepted that and just tried to hit some good shots. My swing still feels good and I’ve got a nice rhythm and all that stuff.”
Ferguson revealed he had stayed in touch with coach Jamie Gough who is not in Northern Ireland.
Ferguson said, “I’ve been speaking to him quite a lot because in the Pro-Am and practice round I was feeling a little bit fatigued because I’ve been playing a lot of golf. I’ve just been back and forth with him trying to sort a few things out. I was on the phone to him last night and just a few little things we were trying to work on. I’ve just been thinking about that and trying to stay in a good place.”
One ahead
American LPGA Tour rookie Amanda Doherty also led for a third day after a birdie on the last saw her one ahead of England’s Georgia Hall and Peiyun Chien, of Chinese Taipei, who battled all day long.
Doherty’s birdie on the final hole took her to 12 under and she said, “I think overall it was a good day. I got off to a bit of a rough start and I hit a few crazy shots today and I managed to come back from that. I hit great putts but didn’t read them so it was nice to have one go in and it’s nice to have a little momentum going into tomorrow. I’m excited, I’m a little bit nervous though. It’s good going into tomorrow.”
There was a second cut to determine the final day’s play with the top 35 players and ties progressing to the last round, which fell at level par for the DP World Tour players and one under par for the Ladies European Tour / LPGA players.
The final round today (Sunday) sees the leaders out last in threeballs with the final group out from Tee 1 at 11.10 am (local NI time) consisting of Syme, Catlin and Ferguson for the DP World Tour players and at 11.20 am, again off Tee 1, consisting of Chien, Hall and Doherty.
Tied 18th: R. Paratore (It)
Tied 21st: J. Smith (Eng)
