Phelan recovers in Bridgestone Challenge

Marcel Schneider. Picture: Getty Images

Kevin Phelan is tied for 29th with three holes of his delayed third round remaining in the Bridgestone Challenge in Oxfordshire.

The Mount Juliet touring professional is two under for his round and eight under for the tournament at Heythrop Park Resort, 11 strokes behind Belgium’s Thomas Detry.

Phelan opened with a 64 but had a triple bogey eight and just one birdie in a second round 74 to slip well down the leaderboard before clawing his way back a little on Saturday.

Chris Selfridge is a shot further back on seven under with Mark Murphy tied 54th on four under after a 72.

Marcel Schneider claimed the clubhouse lead on 12 after carding a seven under par 65 during a rain-affected third day.

After a five hour and 30 minute delay due to heavy rain and lightning, the German managed to keep his focus and birdie two of his last three holes.

The 26 year old is still seven shots behind Detry, who picked up three birdies and one bogey in nine holes to reach 19 under par.

Spain’s Scott Fernandez, who played at The Open Championship at Royal Troon this year after coming through a qualifier at Gailes Links, is five back from Detry along with America’s Shiwan Kim.

Road to Oman Number Four Jordan Smith sits alongside Schneider in fifth place after making five birdies and one bogey during the 12 holes he completed before play was suspended overnight due to darkness