Hoey best of the Irish in Czech Republic; Hurley fades with 76
Julian Suri of the USA. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images
American Julian Suri left the rest for dust — including the Irish — as he carded a nine-under-par 63 to take a three-shot lead into the final day of the D+D REAL Czech Challenge.
Ranked second in the Road to Oman standings, Suri leads on 21-under par from Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen (67-65-66) with Michael Hoey (68-68-69) the best of the Irish, ten shots behind, on 11-under.
Gary Hurley had a day to forget, carding a four-over 76 to crash to 33rd on six-under, 15 shots behind.
“It’s a good feeling,” said 26-year-old Suri. “I played very well, got off to a great start, and there’s quite a few accessible holes to birdie on the front nine so I took advantage of those.
“Tapio played very well as well and we were bouncing back and forth and feeding off each other, but for me it’s the same things as it has been the last few weeks – I’m just trying to go out there and execute my shots as well as I can and I know that the birdies will come.”
It is hard not to view the tournament as a two-horse race, with Oliver Farr the next-nearest contender on 13 under, eight shots back in third place after a 67.
Gavin Moynihan (71-69-71) is 40th on five-under with Kevin Phelan (70-71-73) tied 54th on two-under-par.
Scores after Round 3:
195 J Suri (USA) 67 65 63,
198 T Pulkkanen (Fin) 67 65 66,
203 O Farr (Wal) 71 65 67,
204 P Whiteford (Sco) 72 64 68, S Fernandez (Esp) 68 65 71, T Linard (Fra) 65 69 70,
205 M Hoey (Nir) 68 68 69,
210 G Hurley (Irl) 69 65 76,
211 G Moynihan (Irl) 71 69 71
214 K Phelan (Irl) 70 71 73
