Smyth hoping for back nine boost

Defending champion Paul Wesselingh leads by a shot at De Vere Mottram Hall. Picture: Gettty ImagesDes Smyth is hoping the back nine will finally be kind to him in the final round of the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship.

The overnight leader needed a birdie at the last for a level par 73 that left him a tied for second with Mike Cunning and DJ Russell, a stroke behind defending Paul Wesselingh, fired a three under par 70 to lead on 11 under par.

Smyth has made 11 bogeys this week and all but one of them have come on the back nine at De Vere Mottram Hall.

“It was a real game of halves for me today, I played beautifully on the front nine and was a bit unhappy and unlucky to be only two under par,” said Smyth, who came home in two over 39.

“But then on the back nine I played some scrappy stuff, to be honest, but at least I ended well with a birdie on the last.

“I was a bit lucky with my third shot on 18, because it hit the pin and stopped stone dead. If it had rolled five feet past there’s no way I would’ve holed the putt, because I haven’t got up and down all week!

“The back nine hasn’t been very kind to me so far this week, but tomorrow would definitely be a very good time to change that, so we’ll just give it our best shot and hope it’s good enough.”

Former World No.1 Ian Woosnam isn’t out of the running either after his chip in for a birdie on the last gave him a 71 which left the Welsh ace just four shots off the pace going into tomorrow’s final round.

Malahide’s Philip Walton birdied the par-five first but two bogeys and a double bogey followed and his 75 left him seven shots off the lead and tied for 12th on four under.

208 P Wesselingh (Eng) 68 70 70,

209 D Smyth (Irl) 67 69 73, M Cunning (USA) 71 68 70, D Russell (Eng) 71 67 71,

210 S Tinning (Den) 71 72 67, A Franco (Par) 70 70 70, J Carriles (Esp) 71 67 72,

212 P Golding (Eng) 70 72 70, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 69 71, P Linhart (Esp) 71 74 67,

214 G Brand (Eng) 67 78 69,

215 J Woodward (USA) 74 70 71, P Walton (Irl) 70 70 75, S Luna (Esp) 72 73 70, S Torrance (Sco) 69 73 73, A Oldcorn (Sco) 72 70 73,

216 P Mitchell (Eng) 72 71 73, P Gresswell (Eng) 76 72 68, S Brown (Eng) 71 71 74, C Mason (Eng) 72 73 71, L Carbonetti (Arg) 73 71 72, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 71 73 72, G Bell (Eng) 70 74 72,

217 K Spurgeon (Eng) 75 73 69, S Bennett (Eng) 74 69 74, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 74 71 72, M James (Eng) 69 71 77, R Gibson (Can) 74 74 69, B Longmuir (Sco) 69 76 72,

218 M McLean (Eng) 71 73 74, A Forsbrand (Swe) 73 73 72, M Wharton (Eng) 76 72 70, J Gould (Eng) 71 74 73,

219 J Quiros (Esp) 77 72 70, T Price (Aus) 71 74 74, M Martin (Esp) 72 72 75, J Bruner (USA) 73 74 72,

220 A Fernandez (Chi) 75 74 71, J Murphy (Eng) 76 73 71, L Fickling (Eng) 75 73 72, N Job (Eng) 72 75 73, G Manson (Aut) 71 74 75, R Green (Eng) 71 76 73, R Thompson (USA) 76 72 72,

221 J Hall (Eng) 77 72 72, T Elliott (Aus) 75 73 73, R Roper (Eng) 73 76 72, A Sherborne (Eng) 74 74 73, J Harrison (Eng) 72 72 77,

222 R Sabarros (Fra) 71 77 74, S McNally (Eng) 75 72 75, B Cameron (Eng) 73 75 74, A Murray (Eng) 75 72 75, M Piñero (Esp) 74 74 74, M Farry (Fra) 75 74 73, G Banister (Aus) 72 74 76, G Ryall (Eng) 74 75 73,

223 W Grant (Eng) 74 75 74,

224 J Anderson (USA) 76 73 75, S Rastall (Eng) 71 77 76, M Mackenzie (Eng) 71 76 77, T Thelen (USA) 76 72 76,

226 G Stubbington (Eng) 75 74 77, D James (Sco) 72 76 78, R Drummond (Sco) 71 78 77,

227 J Hawksworth (Eng) 73 76 78,

230 S Cipa (Eng) 77 72 81