Ireland eight back in Melbourne; adventures for Leona, Thornton, Lawlor
Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry
Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Paul Dunne are eight strokes behind Belgium heading into the final day foursomes at the ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf.
They followed their costly 76 in Friday’s foursomes with a bogey-free, seven-under par 65 in the third round fourball betterball format to share eighth place with Canada and Scotland on 11-under.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters carded a brilliant third-round 63 to open a five-shot lead over Mexico, Italy and South Korea.
They entered day three at The Metropolitan Golf Club in a share of the lead but a Detry eagle on the ninth put them two ahead and they powered away on the back nine as the chasing pack faltered.
The Italian team of Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore were at 14 under alongside South Korean pair Byeong-hun An and Si Woo Kim, and Mexican duo Abraham Ancer and Roberto Diaz.
England, Sweden and Australia were then six shots off the lead.
Brendan Lawlor, front centre, with the winning World team at the Disabled Golf Cup
Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor partnered Spain's Juan Postigo to a 5&4 victory in the fourballs at the Disabled Golf Cup iand steered the World team to a 3.5 to 2.5 victory over Australia.
Lawlor has been one of the stars of the last two weeks in Australia and after finishing second in the Australian All Abilities Championship in Sydney, he was outstanding again in Melbourne, even making a 60 footer for eagle at the ninth.
Meanwhile, Leona Maguire (23) is seven shots behind defending champion Azahara Muñoz in the weather-delayed Andalucia Open de España at La Quinta Resort in Malaga.
The Slieve Russell star played 31 holes yesterday but after completing a level par 71 in the morning, she bogeyed the last for a one-over 72 in gathering gloom to finish the day tied for 23rd on one-over.
"I drove the ball well but struggled with my irons at times," Maguire said. "So I didn't give myself enough birdie chances."
Muñoz shot a brace of 68's to lead by one stroke from British Women's Open champion Georgia Hall and Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew on six-under par.
In Turkey, Tulfarris Resort's Simon Thornton won £1,050 but missed out on vital tour starts when he closed with a level par 71 to finish eighth on four-under in the PGA Play-offs at Antalya Golf Club.
There was an English 1-2-3 as David Dixon blasted an eight-under 63 to win by three shots from Matthew Cort (66) on 13-under with Robert Coles (63) third on eight-under.
“Wasn’t good enough today, but gave it my all,” Thornton tweeted. “If you commit to your routine, process and swing then it’s easier to take when things don’t go to plan. I didn’t on one shot and it cost me. Live and learn. Well done to the lads on PGA Cup,and @EuropeanTour spots. #PGAPlayOffs”
Dixon and Cort earned spots in the BMW PGA Championship and the British Masters as well as spots on the GB&I PGA Cup team alongside Coles, who beat Scot Paul O'Hara in a sudden-death playoff for third place.
Michael McGeady (66) was tenth on three-under with Waterville's David Higgins (72) 16th on one-over.
In Greece, Ireland finished tied fourth at the International Team Championship run by the PGA’s of Europe.
The team of Damian Mooney (Damian Mooney Golf), Joe Dillon (Headfort) and Colm Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & GC) produced their best round of the week, a combined four-under par (138) at the Dunes Course, Costa Navarino.
Germany cruised to victory on nine under par with Holland second on five under and England in third on three under. Belgium joined Ireland in a tie for fourth on one over par.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rai has a six-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Honma Hong Kong Open.
Chasing his maiden title, the Englishman followed up Friday's course-record 61 with a 68 to get to 16 under par and move six clear of countrymen Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
