Another positive day for Dunbar and Grant
Matteo Delpodio. Picture © Getty Images
Alan Dunbar and Stephen Grant moved up the leaderboard entering the final round of the Fred Olsen Challenge de España in the Canaries.
Playing together at Tecina Golf on La Gomera, the Irish pair made up some ground as Italy's Matteo Delpodio shot 66 to lead by a shot from close pal Nicolo Ravano (65) on 14 under
Dunbar was three under through nine holes but after giving them back with three bogeys after the turn, he eagle the par-five 17th to card a two under 69 to move up to tied 50th on two under.
Grant is a shot further back on two under after a 70 that moved him up 18 spots on the leaderboard to tied 57th on two under.
Both 28 years old and born just five days apart, Delpodio and Ravano have experience very similar journeys in the world of golf, playing together as kids and coming through the system before making their way in the professional game in the Alps Tour and now upon the Challenge Tour.
“Matteo and I are very close because we have played golf since we were kids, and have followed same steps,” said Ravano. “I moved to Torino so we practise together, travel together and have a strong friendship
“I am very pleased. It’s been a long time since I am in this position, very happy to be there, if I play like today I can have a good chance tomorrow.”
Delpodio is well aware of the depth of talent among the chasing pack behind him, and knows he cannot afford to offer any friendly chances to Ravano or any of the players looking to knock him off the top of the leaderboard.
“I am happy to be in this position but I know I cannot relax because there are so many players out there with good chances. Even yesterday’s leader is still in contention, and he is dangerous for tomorrow.
“It is not going to be an easy day tomorrow. Today I tried not to care much about scores, just my game, shot by shot. This worked well for me today and I will try and keep the same game plan tomorrow but it will be tough.”
Complete Round Three Scores:
199 M Delpodio (Ita) 66 67 66;
200 N Ravano (Ita) 68 67 65;
201 A Johnston (Eng) 69 66 66; M Lampert (Ger) 69 66 66; J Sjöholm (Swe) 67 62 72;
202 A Domingo (Esp) 68 66 68; H Joannes (Bel) 68 67 67;
203 J Palmer (Eng) 66 68 69; P Oriol (Esp) 68 66 69; A Velasco (Esp) 71 66 66; A Rota (Ita) 67 67 69; M Southgate (Eng) 70 69 64;
204 D Law (Sco) 72 66 66; D Perrier (Fra) 65 72 67; L Claverie (Esp) 67 69 68; J Bragulat (Esp) 66 71 67; N Kimsey (Eng) 70 67 67;
205 J Senior (Eng) 67 70 68; R Enoch (Wal) 68 65 72; M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 69 66; S Hutsby (Eng) 66 68 71; O Lieser (Cze) 65 70 70; L Jensen (Den) 72 64 69;
206 J Barnes (Eng) 74 65 67; C Aguilar (Esp) 70 69 67; D Stewart (Sco) 70 67 69; D Borda (Esp) 68 70 68; D Suazo (Esp) 70 69 67; A Hortal (Esp) 68 68 70;
207 G Houston (Wal) 74 66 67; A Engell (Nor) 66 69 72; A Tadini (Ita) 70 69 68; W Harrold (Eng) 72 65 70; N Raymond (Eng) 71 70 66;
208 J Garcia Del Moral (Esp) 72 67 69; O Farr (Wal) 67 72 69; G Watremez (Bel) 69 71 68; H Satama (Fin) 68 69 71; M Pastor (Esp) 73 68 67; P McKechnie (Sco) 69 69 70; M Orrin (Eng) 66 69 73; O Stark (Swe) 72 67 69; R Steiner (Aut) 72 69 67;
209 M Glauert (Ger) 72 68 69; J Harrison (Eng) 75 65 69; C Kelly (Sco) 70 66 73; J Sarasti (Esp) 69 71 69; C Russo (Fra) 70 67 72; A Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 70 69 70;
210 S Tiley (Eng) 69 69 72; S Hansen (Nor) 70 70 70; A Dunbar (Nir) 71 70 69; C Macaulay (Sco) 67 71 72; C Balmaseda (Esp) 70 71 69; F De Vries (Ned) 73 66 71; A Gutierrez (Esp) 72 69 69;
211 S Grant (Irl) 74 67 70; S Brown (Eng) 67 74 70;
212 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 69 71; T Murray (Eng) 72 69 71;
213 N Thommen (Sui) 72 68 73; M Wiegele (Aut) 68 73 72; C Shinkwin (Eng) 71 67 75; D Gavins (Eng) 72 67 74; J Moul (Eng) 70 71 72;
214 M Haines (Eng) 68 72 74; L Goddard (Eng) 75 65 74; F Bergamaschi (Ita) 71 70 73; N Meitinger (Ger) 72 69 73;
215 A Maestroni (Ita) 71 69 75; B Ritthammer (Ger) 70 70 75;
216 F Adarraga (Esp) 72 68 76;
217 P Figueiredo (Por) 70 68 79;
218 P Martin Benavides (Esp) 71 70 77;
** G Murray (Sco) 73 68 WD
