Caldwell happy to be in the mix in Newcastle
Renato Paratore. Picture: Getty Images
Clandeboye's Jonny Caldwell remained on track for the best finish of his European Tour career in the Betfred British Masters at Close House.
A foursomes partner for world No 2 Rory McIlroy in the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down, the 36-year old is determined to make hay after winning back his card for the first time since 2008.
"I played lovely tee-to-green, drove it well and hit a lot of greens, so to post a bogey-free round was particularly nice and very pleased," said Caldwell, who carded a bogey-free, four-under 67 to go in the final round tied for eighth on 10-under par, just six shots behind Italy’s Renato Paratore.
"I'm in a nice position on the leaderboard but then the scoring is good, the golf course is not too difficult with the greens pure."
Caldwell recorded the best finish and the biggest pay-day of his European Tour career when he tied for 14th in the Alfred Dunhill Championship last December and won €20,550.
But with €196,690 on offer for the winner in Newcastle and a top-10 finish worth at least €23,140, playing without crowds can only help his cause as he seeks a maiden win and one of ten US Open exemptions available from a mini Order of Merit over the next five weeks.
"It's been very different and while I have not played a lot on the main tour over the years, so I am not used to that many spectators, so things would seem normal to me at the minute," he said.
"It is not a whole lot different to what I am used to but then I am sure a lot of the other guys have found it a lot different but I am just happy enough to be playing whether there are no spectators or not."
Paratore (23) went bogey-free for the third day in a row, carding a five-under 66 to lead by a shot on 16-under-par from South Africa's Justin Harding, who also shot 66.
With pin positions more accessible yesterday, Denmark's Rasmus Højgaard moved up to third on 15-under after a 66
England's Dale Whitnell sat alone in fourth, a shot further back after a 68 as compatriot Sam Horsfield made three eagles in a 61 to share fifth with Ashley Chesters on 12-under.
"Never [carded three eagles] in a tournament," Horsfield said after making threes at the par-five seventh, 10th and 17th holes in a round that also featured five birdies and a bogey.
"The first one I hit a six-iron to 35 feet, made that one, then on ten, I hit a five-wood to two feet for another two. Number three was a little unexpected, I had 50 feet up a ridge and it went in, so I'm not complaining.
"I actually never thought about it (potential 59) until walking up the 18th fairway. I missed a couple of putts on 13 and 14 from 12, 15 feet and I said to my caddie walking up 18, 'I may as well hole it and try to shoot 59'. I didn't do that but I had it going today, which was nice."
Greystones’ Paul Dunne, who has secured a spot in next week’s Hero Open at the Forest of Arden, birdied the last two holes for a two-under 69 in his first start for nine months and moved up to joint 48th on three-under-par.
As the European Tour resumed after more than four months away due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 'Golf For Good' initiative was given a boost as Jack Senior holed a seven-iron from 176 yards for an ace at the 14th.
He won £50,000 for the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation, the event's Official Charity, which was donated by tournament sponsor Betfred.
Renato Paratore -- 66 (-5), -16
I played really solid these three days, especially the short game which has helped me save some shots when I needed them, so I'm happy with that. Fortunately I live in Dubai with my friend who is also on the European Tour and we played a lot of competitive rounds with each other after lockdown. I think this helped me to stay competitive. I played solid from tee to green and some putts helped me to keep things consistent so I think everything has helped me throughout these rounds. I am just really happy, we practice to be in contention so I can't wait to get out there tomorrow.
Justin Harding -- 66 (-5), -15
I think Renato's gone and birdied the last so he'll start the day one ahead, but it was more about just hanging in there and giving yourself and opportunity going into tomorrow. There are a couple of holes which don't just suit my eye and I think I played them a little bit more conservatively that a couple of the others but it's just one of those golf courses where you feel like you should be shooting the lights out and sometimes it just doesn't quite work out that way. I felt like I played good again today, I wasn't trying to go out and shoot an eight or nine under par like Horsfield. But obviously to shoot the score that he shot, you kind of felt like there was something out there.
Rasmus Højgaard -- 66 (-5), -14
I'm probably going to be a bit nervous tomorrow after such a long break but I've got to just keep patient and calm like what I did in the first three days and hopefully that will be enough in the end. I think I can take a few things from my last win. The last time I stayed patient and stayed calm. I didn't rush anything and didn't try to force anything so that will be my plan tomorrow if I'm in contention going down the stretch.
Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood, Close House, near Newcastle Upon Tyne, England (Par 71)
197 R Paratore (Ita) 65 66 66
198 J Harding (Rsa) 69 63 66
199 R Hojgaard (Den) 66 67 66
200 D Whitnell (Eng) 68 64 68
201 A Chesters (Eng) 67 66 68, S Horsfield (Eng) 70 70 61
202 R Rock (Eng) 69 66 67
203 B Stow (Eng) 67 68 68, Jonathan Caldwell (Nir) 67 69 67, A Meronk (Pol) 69 68 66
204 O Fisher (Eng) 65 69 70, A Sullivan (Eng) 68 69 67, J Senior (Eng) 71 70 63
205 C Hill (Sco) 67 66 72, R Fox (Nzl) 67 67 71, P Figueiredo (Por) 66 69 70, E Pepperell (Eng) 67 69 69, M Jordan (Eng) 68 68 69, J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 69 68, J Smith (Eng) 69 69 67, R Karlberg (Swe) 69 70 66, A Rai (Eng) 69 70 66, R Bland (Eng) 69 70 66
206 G Porteous (Eng) 65 71 70, R Roussel (Fra) 69 68 69, L Van Meijel (Ned) 69 68 69, A Otaegui (Esp) 73 65 68,
207 C Sordet (Fra) 69 67 71, P Larrazabal (Esp) 67 71 69, G Havret (Fra) 70 68 69, L Canter (Eng) 70 68 69, M Jimenez (Esp) 68 71 68, S Jamieson (Sco) 70 69 68, D Horsey (Eng) 70 69 68, J Veerman (Usa) 69 71 67, G Storm (Eng) 71 69 67, G Migliozzi (Ita) 71 70 66
208 A Arnaus (Esp) 70 69 69
209 D Law (Sco) 64 69 76, J Singh Brar (Eng) 67 70 72, J Winther (Den) 70 67 72, A Quiros (Esp) 69 69 71, B Poke (Den) 70 68 71, N Elvira (Esp) 71 68 70, A Bjork (Swe) 68 72 69, N Lemke (Swe) 70 70 69, S Vincent (Zim) 69 72 68
210 T Tree (Eng) 69 67 74, A Cockerill (Can) 66 71 73, J Mcleod (Aus) 69 70 71, J Scrivener (Aus) 70 69 71, A Rozner (Fra) 72 67 71, R Ramsay (Sco) 69 71 70, M Southgate (Eng) 70 70 70, M Pavon (Fra) 71 69 70, M Korhonen (Fin) 71 69 70, H Porteous (Rsa) 71 69 70, S Crocker (Usa) 67 74 69, A Pavan (Ita) 69 72 69, R Langasque (Fra) 70 71 69, Paul Dunne (Irl) 71 70 69, G Fernandez-Castaño (Esp) 72 69 69
211 D Huizing (Ned) 73 67 71, D Coupland (Eng) 70 71 70
212 M Kinhult (Swe) 69 69 74, G Forrest (Sco) 70 71 71
213 L Westwood (Eng) 70 71 72
214 L Slattery (Eng) 66 74 74
217 J Hansen (Den) 70 70 77
220 B Stone (Rsa) 71 70 79
