Adrien Saddier will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Amgen Irish Open after edging in front of an inspired Angel Hidalgo on a thrilling day at The K Club.
Related: Lagergren rekindles K Club magic to lead Irish Open
The Frenchman posted a four under par 68 to reach 15 under after 54 holes, with Spain’s Hidalgo one stroke back after a nine under 63 which included a run of seven straight birdies.
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Another Spaniard in Alfredo Garcia-Heredia is third on 12 under, while Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy is just four strokes off the lead in a tie for fourth with the final round in Ireland tantalisingly poised.
Saddier, who won his first DP World Tour title at the Italian Open earlier this year, mixed three bogeys with seven birdies in his round of 68 to claim the slender advantage after three rounds in County Kildare, but it was Hidalgo who lit up the Palmer North Course on day three.
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The 27-year-old reeled off seven birdies in a row from the second hole as he flew up the leaderboard, before dropping one at the ninth to make the turn in 29. Back-to-back gains arrived at the tenth and 11th, before ticking off another pair at the 14th and 15th with the DP World Tour record for most birdies in a round well within his sights.
However, he double-bogeyed the par five 16th after finding the water with his approach, but secured a 12th and final birdie at the closing hole to equal the record for most birdies in a round on the DP World Tour.
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Five-time Major winner McIlroy posted his second consecutive bogey-free round with a four under 68 as he moved to within four of the lead and will tomorrow take aim at his second Amgen Irish Open victory, nine years after claiming the title at The K Club.
Irishman Shane Lowry was the only Amgen ambassador to make the cut in his national open and carded four birdies in his round of 70 to add another €2,000 donation to Make a Wish Ireland.
The Official Charity Partner of the Amgen Irish Open will receive another €12,300 via the Birdies for Wishes campaign after 40 birdies and one eagle were carded on the 18th hole.
Player quotes
Adrien Saddier: It was pretty good today. A pretty good start for me, I was two under after three, then four was pretty tough. I was quite surprised with the score to be honest but I think I managed the course pretty well with my low moments and my high moments. I feel happy about that 68.
I’m feeling good with my long game, pretty happy with where it is. I just tried to stay focusing shot by shot and tried to make a good one and tried to save par in some moments.
There is still 18 holes to play, so a lot of things can happen. As I said yesterday, I crushed myself last weekend, but I have a good chance again. I was with my team on Monday, and I’m focused on tomorrow and what I have to do and what I can control. We’ll see what happens.
