Monty still winless at The Heritage

By Brian Keogh

Colin Montgomerie remained winless in the Seve Trophy as Continental Europe took a narrow 9.5 - 8.5 lead into the final day at The Heritage in rain-soaked Co Laois.

Beaten twice with compatriot Marc Warren in the first two fourball sessions, the Scot sat out yesterday morning’s greensomes but produced an abject putting show as he lost 3&2 with Graeme Storm in the foursomes to Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Swede Robert Karlsson.

Playing in miserable conditions in front of another sparse crowd, Monty and Storm were one up at the turn but lost four holes in a row at the start of the back nine to go three down and never recovered.

Tied 5-5 starting they day, Continental Europe dominated the morning greensomes matches 3.5 - 0.5 to lead 8.5 to 5.5 going into the afternoon.

Fernandez-Castaño was one of the heroes for skipper Seve Ballesteros, coming in as a replacement for stomach ache victim Thomas Bjorn to partner Karlsson to a 3&1 win over top ranked stars Justin Rose and Paul Casey in the morning.

Fernandez-Castaño said: “It was a funny night and I’m surprised I played that well. I had to ask for another room because of the baby next door and you should have seen me at a quarter to two walking along the corridor in my pyjamas.

“Then the phone rang at 6 am and I was told it was Mr Ballesteros. He told me the story about Thomas.”

The highlight of the morning came when he Havret holed a four-iron for an ace at the 189-yard seventh in a 2&1 comeback win over Storm and Nick Dougherty.

In the afternoon foursomes, Great Britain and Ireland edged the session 3-1 with Dougherty and Justin Rose ending Havret and Raphael Jacquelin’s 100 percent record with a 2&1 win in the top match.

Simon Dyson and Oliver Wilson beat Peter Hanson and Soren Hansen 3&2 while top British pair Bradley Dredge and Phillip Archer saw off Markus Brier and Miguel Angel Jimenez at the last.