Sharvin just seven back at Celtic Manor
Connor Syme and his caddie. Picture: Getty Images
Cormac Sharvin battled to a two-under 69 to go into the final round just two strokes outside the top 10 in the ISPS HANDA Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort.
The Ardglass man (27) is tied for 21st on level par with Jonny Caldwell 58th after a 71 and Paul Dunne 71st after a two-over 73.
Sharvin is seven strokes adrift of Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg and Scotland’s Connor Syme, who have a three-shot lead on seven=under over Finland’s Sami S Valimaki with former Ryder Cup stars Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Pieters tied for fourth, four behind on three-under.
Swede Soderberg is chasing a second title in as many years, having overcome four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy in a play-off to claim his maiden win at last year's Omega European Masters.
Syme, meanwhile, is targeting a first European Tour title and a wire-to-wire victory, having come close to winning last week's Celtic Classic at this same venue.
The Scot birdied the difficult par five 18th hole for the third successive time this week, and the fifth time in seven rounds over the Twenty Ten Course, to sign for a second successive 70 and ensure he did not relinquish his place at the summit - where he has finished each round this week.
Soderberg carded a bogey-free three-under 68 to join Syme at the top, three shots clear of Sami Välimäki - who has won already this season having picked up his first European Tour title at the Oman Open. The Finn carded a 67 for a four-under total.
Molinari, who starred in Europe's Ryder Cup victory at Celtic Manor ten years ago, and 2016 Ryder Cup player Pieters were a shot further back on three-under-par after respective third rounds of 68 and 69.
Player Quotes
Connor Syme: “It was a nice way to finish. I felt like I played really solid today and just never got any putts to drop, unfortunately, so I was saying to my caddie there, it can all be forgotten about if I manage to hole that putt at the last. So it was a perfect way to finish.
“I hit it close with a couple of five irons, really good shots and didn’t capitalize and a three-putt as well but it was just one of those days where nothing’s easy. It’s difficult no matter what, and putting might like seem like the easiest part but it’s not. You’re getting battered all over the place. I’m not going to look into it too much, it was a great to finish on the last and hopefully I find that rhythm all day tomorrow.
“Finding myself in the same position as last week, I’ll just try and do the same stuff I’ve been doing all week. I don’t think it’s going to be quite as windy tomorrow but it’s a different challenge with that compared to last week. Pars will probably more your friend than birdies whereas last week you felt you had to attack a little bit more. It’ll be the same game plan as last week and try give myself a chance coming down the back nine really."
Sebastian Soderberg: “It’s probably one of the better bogey-free rounds I’ve ever played. I hit a lot of good shots, always kept the ball in play off the tee and my short game was just perfect every time I was in trouble. It wasn’t stress-free but it was very good.
"When my short game is as good as it was today, these conditions probably suit me better but you never know. Some weeks when I’m hot with my wedges, it’s better suited to good conditions, but if I keep it up like this, I’d chose these conditions for my game.
“It feels great to be in position, I just try and stay patient, If it’s the same wind tomorrow, it’s so easy for it to just get away from you so every shot is a battle, even in the downwind holes. If you start losing focus it’s easy to make some big numbers. I just need to keep battling shot by shot.”
ISPS HANDA Wales Open, The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Gwent, Wales (Par 71)
206 C Syme (Sco) 66 70 70, S Soderberg (Swe) 68 70 68,
209 S Valimaki (Fin) 70 72 67,
210 T Pieters (Bel) 69 72 69, E Molinari (Ita) 72 70 68,
211 R Langasque (Fra) 71 68 72, D Dixon (Eng) 70 70 71, D Burmester (RSA) 72 71 68, M Siem (Ger) 70 74 67, J Morrison (Eng) 73 72 66,
212 N ElvirA (Esp) 71 67 74, M Kinhult (Swe) 69 71 72, L Canter (Eng) 71 69 72, B Stone (RSA) 70 72 70, S GarciA Rodriguez (Esp) 73 70 69, C Howie (Sco) 74 69 69, J Campillo (Esp) 75 68 69, R Fox (Nzl) 70 74 68, C Hill (Sco) 73 71 68, G Green (Mas) 73 71 68,
213 J Smith (Eng) 66 72 75, L Johnston (Sco) 70 68 75, J Harding (RSA) 70 70 73, R Rock (Eng) 71 69 73, M Jordan (Eng) 69 72 72, J Scrivener (Aus) 70 74 69, Cormac Sharvin (Nir) 73 71 69,
214 H Li (Chn) 72 66 76, S Heisele (Ger) 70 71 73, M Fenasse (Fra) 72 70 72, C Shinkwin (Eng) 68 75 71, M Armitage (Eng) 74 69 71, L De Jager (RSA) 70 74 70, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 73 70, A Johnston (Eng) 73 71 70, B Ritthammer (Ger) 75 70 69, C Sordet (Fra) 72 74 68, Z Lombard (RSA) 77 69 68,
215 R Paratore (Ita) 69 72 74, A Otaegui (Esp) 71 70 74, D Huizing (Ned) 70 73 72, O Lengden (Swe) 72 71 72, O Fisher (Eng) 71 73 71, J Senior (Eng) 73 71 71, D Young (Sco) 73 72 70, N Lemke (Swe) 73 72 70, R Ramsay (Sco) 73 72 70, D Perrier (Fra) 71 75 69, D Law (Sco) 71 75 69, C Paisley (Eng) 72 74 69, D Van Driel (Ned) 75 71 69,
216 A Rai (Eng) 70 71 75, N Colsaerts (Bel) 71 72 73, A Cockerill (Can) 73 71 72, D Whitnell (Eng) 73 71 72, S Crocker (USA) 74 71 71, A Karlsson (Swe) 77 69 70,
217 A Chesters (Eng) 69 72 76, A Saddier (Fra) 71 71 75, L Scalise (Ita) 72 71 74, W Besseling (Ned) 73 71 73, J McLeod (Aus) 73 71 73, M KawamurA (Jpn) 74 70 73, R McEvoy (Eng) 71 74 72, Jonathan Caldwell (Nir) 72 74 71, L Van Meijel (Ned) 72 74 71,
218 K KitayamA (USA) 68 74 76, A Meronk (Pol) 73 69 76, S Tiley (Eng) 71 73 74, R Macintyre (Sco) 68 78 72,
219 M Baldwin (Eng) 74 72 73, Paul Dunne (Irl) 74 72 73, S Vincent (Zim) 75 71 73,
220 S Kim (USA) 71 67 82,
221 S Horsfield (Eng) 73 71 77,
222 M Southgate (Eng) 69 73 80,
223 L Slattery (Eng) 78 66 79
