Has Paul got it Dunne and dusted – or can Big Jon turn Rahm-raider?
I reland’s Paul Dunne yesterday carded a four-underpar 68 to head the field by one shot heading into today’s final round of the Open de Espana in Madrid.
Dunne, who began the day three strokes clear, registered five birdies and a bogey to reach 17-under-par, but Spaniard Nacho Elvira stayed in contention with seven gains and two dropped shots in his third round to lie one back of the Irishman.
World No. 4 Jon Rahm and Sweden’s Henric Sturehed finished the day on 15-under after both players recorded six-under 66 cards.
Australia’s Brett Rumford ended the day a shot further adrift in fifth, while England’s Andy Sullivan sits in sixth.
Dunne opened up with four pars before a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth moved him two clear of Spaniard Rahm and Sturehed, before a gain at the 12th put the Irishman further ahead. He handed that stroke back at the penultimate hole to remain at 16-under.
But the 25-year-old finished with a flourish with his fifth birdie of the day to remain on course for his second European Tour title.
“It’s probably the best my swing has felt, the best my body has felt like it’s been moving, but I just didn’t pull the shots off,” Dunne admitted afterwards. “There was a lot of grinding there on the back nine but I’m happy to get in with four-under.
“I probably wouldn’t have taken it at the start of the day but, given the shots that I hit, I’m pretty happy with it heading into tomorrow.
“I’m confident about tomorrow. There are lots of shots I’d like to have back out there, but I can’t. So I’m just going to sleep on the lead and have a good day tomorrow.
“Hopefully, it gives me a chance to win. We’ll see where it takes us.” Home favourite Rahm turned in for 33 after birdies on the first, second and sixth before picking up two more shots at the 10th and 11th.
A bogey at the 14th blotted his scorecard, but he responded by carding birdies at the 15th and the last to put him in serious contention at the Centro Nacional de Golf.
Englishman Sullivan carded the round of the day with eight gains and just one dropped shot in a 65 to support his stunning second round of 63 to sit on 13-underpar.
Scotland’s Marc Warren lies a shot behind the Ryder Cup man after a three-under-par 69, with fellow-scot Bradley right behind after his third-round 68 took him on to 11-under for the tourney.