McGee scaling Swiss peak; one back entering final round

Ruaidhri McGee

He came close last year. Now Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee has another opportunity to break into the winner’s circle on the Challenge Tour after a five-birdie 69 left him just one off the lead entering the final round of the Swiss Challenge in Lucerne.

The 25-year old Derry city talent had a second and a third place on the second tier European circuit in 2015 but at eight under par, he’s hot on the heels of England’s Paul Howard (69) and Germany’s Alexander Knappe (67), tied for third with Damien Perrier (67) of France.

Cormac Sharvin shot a level par 71 to share 26th on three under with Kevin Phelan falling 22 spots to tied 45th on one over after a 74 at Golf Sempachersee.

Scores after round 3:

204 P Howard (Eng) 68 67 69, A Knappe (Ger) 67 70 67, 

205 Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 70 66 69, D Perrier (Fra) 67 71 67, 

206 E Kofstad (Nor) 68 68 70, D Van Driel (Ned) 72 65 69, 

207 D Law (Sco) 71 69 67, M Tullo (Chi) 74 65 68, G Drakeford (Aus) 68 73 66, H Joannes (Bel) 69 66 72, B Rusch (Sui) 70 69 68, O Stark (Swe) 68 72 67, J Stalter (Fra) 69 67 71, S Heisele (Ger) 68 69 70, 

208 M Nixon (Eng) 70 68 70, A Pavan (Ita) 66 70 72, L Gagli (Ita) 71 69 68, 

209 E Johansen (Nor) 69 72 68, B Ritthammer (Ger) 68 71 70, R Langasque (Fra) 71 67 71, W Besseling (Ned) 69 70 70, D Foos (Ger) 74 67 68, J Heath (Eng) 73 68 68, P Angles (Esp) 67 68 74, T Murray (Eng) 68 68 73, 

210 Cormac Sharvin (Nir) 68 71 71, A Maestroni (Ita) 68 72 70, C Bouniol (Fra) 69 74 67, C Mivis (Bel) 70 70 70, 

211 M Crespi (Ita) 73 67 71, A Tadini (Ita) 73 68 70, J Smith (Eng) 72 70 69, S Tiley (Eng) 72 70 69, P Mejow (Ger) 69 72 70, 

212 L Weber (Fra) 69 71 72, M Schneider (Ger) 73 69 70, T Gornik (Slo) 68 69 75, D Stewart (Sco) 71 72 69, I Cantero Gutierrez (am) (Esp) 70 69 73, 

213 J Lando Casanova (Fra) 73 69 71, R De Sousa (Sui) 74 69 70, R Saxton (Ned) 72 71 70, M Bremner (RSA) 70 72 71, P Whiteford (Sco) 71 72 70, 

214 Kevin Phelan (Irl) 69 71 74, A Rai (Eng) 74 68 72, S Kim (USA) 75 66 73, D Wuensche (Ger) 71 72 71, M Trappel (Aut) 69 70 75, A Hartø (Den) 70 70 74, 

215 D Huizing (Ned) 74 67 74, J Guerrier (Fra) 71 70 74, M Wiegele (Aut) 73 70 72, S Fallon (Eng) 70 73 72, 

216 M Pavon (Fra) 68 72 76, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 71 70 75, N Geyger (Chi) 71 70 75, M Lafeber (Ned) 70 71 75, 

217 N Quintarelli (Ita) 73 70 74, D Vancsik (Arg) 73 68 76, R Enoch (Wal) 69 73 75, V Riu (Fra) 73 70 74, 

218 C Del Moral (Esp) 70 72 76, 

219 M Lampert (Ger) 72 71 76, 

221 C Doak (Sco) 72 70 79, M Iten (am) (Sui) 70 73 78, 

222 J Girrbach (Sui) 71 71 80, 

223 C Feldborg Nielsen (Sie) 72 71 80.