Sharvin snatches share of the lead in Open de Portugal
Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez. Image: golfsupport.nl
Cormac Sharvin is slowly learning his trade in professional golf, and he's hoping he can put his experience into practice when he goes into the final round of the Open de Portugal seeking a maiden win that would likely secure his European Tour card.
The Ardglass native (26) didn't have his best stuff in Saturday's third round at Morgado Golf Resort but he managed to do what good tour players do and birdied three of his last five holes to snatch a share of the lead with England's Richard Bland, Spain's Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez and Sweden's Henric Sturehed on ten-under par. Scores
"I didn't have my best stuff today," Sharvin said after a third-round 69. "I felt like I got it round very well. I putted really nicely and holed some good putts at important moments. I didn't play that bad, I just didn't feel I hit it as well as I did yesterday, but I managed to mange things really well and get it around in as low a score as possible.
"Those last few holes were huge for me because I just dropped a shot on 13 which took me back to level, seven-under for the tournament,
"I was just trying to press on during the last five or six holes to get myself into a position for tomorrow where I'm going to get a chance to win, and I managed to make three birdies coming in."
Sharvin lies sixth in the race for 15 European Tour cards via the Race to Mallorca rankings having shaved more than a shot off his scoring average this year (69.41 compared to 70.74)
"I've been in contention quite a lot this year," added the 2015 Walker Cup player who has had six top-10 finishes this year, including a runner-up finish in the Rolex Trophy last month.
"I feel like I've been up there most weeks and I've tried to take things away from those weeks and learn from them. Hopefully, I can draw on them tomorrow and give it a good go."
First-round leader Sturehed bounced back from his second-round 75 with a sublime seven-under-par 65 to set the target before being joined at the top by Garcia Rodriguez thanks to a three-under 69, and finally Bland and Sharvin, who posted rounds of 70 and 69, respectively.
The quartet shares a narrow one-stroke advantage over a group of five players on nine under par, including 36-hole leader Rhys Enoch, Jack Senior, who tied the low round of the week with an eight-under-par 64, Frenchman Mathieu Fenasse, Poland's Adrian Meronk and Francesco Laporta, from Italy.
Derry's Ruaidhri McGee (28) is having another solid season, but with just one top-10 this year, he needs a few big weeks to challenge for one of those 15 cards.
He's five shots off the pace on Portugal, tied for 17th on five-under after a 71 yesterday while The Island's Paul McBride is two shots further back after a 72.
West Waterford's Gary Hurley failed to take advantage of his first weekend appearance on the Challenge Tour in just six starts this year.
He carded a five-over 77 and fall to 63rd on four-over-par alongside Jonny Caldwell, who shot 75
