Slattery sizzles with 62 in Italy
England’s Lee Slattery holds a one-shot lead heading into today’s final round of the Italian Open after carding a best-of-the-week 62 on day three at Gardagolf Country Club.
The 39-year-old from Southport fired eight birdies and an eagle from 10 feet on the seventh in his nine-under-par round.
A solitary bogey after a miscued tee shot on the 12th leaves Slattery 16-under for the week, one ahead of home favourite and last week’s BMW PGA Championship winner Francesco Molinari and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen. Halfway leader Martin Kaymer and England’s Danny Willett – both major champions but short of form of late – are a shot further back after rounds of 68 and 67 respectively.
Slattery made birdies at the fourth and sixth before taking advantage of an excellent approach to the seventh.
The two-time European Tour winner made another gain at the 10th and, after his blemish on the 12th where he was fortunate his tee shot stopped just short of the water, bounced back with a hattrick of gains before converting from 12 feet at the last.
“It was very relaxing, playing with two good guys, Laurie Canter and Richard Sterne. I know them both quite well, and we just enjoyed it,” Slattery said. “When you get in that zone, you just keep making birdies. It’s a great feeling.
“I’ll just try and relax and just enjoy it tomorrow.” Olesen made seven birdies before dropping his only shot of the day on the 16th after threeputting for a round of 65, while Molinari – twice a winner of his national open – carded one bogey against six birdies, including a lengthy effort on the 18th which delighted the locals in Brescia.
Italian hero Molinari said: “I’ve been more erratic off the tee than usual, but I managed to scramble well. Putting today was really good.
“It would be the most special to win here considering what I’ve done last week. But, one step at a time. Hopefully, my ball-striking will be a little bit better tomorrow and I can take another chance. “It was another good day, amazing crowds and, hopefully, we’re in for some fun tomorrow. Former Masters champ Willett admitted he is delighted with his return to form: “We’ve been doing a lot of work and things have been feeling close. It’s nice that things are kind of getting there. I’ll get rested up and come out and post one tomorrow.
“You can feel like you’re playing good golf, it’s been a tough run to kind of keep the chin up and keep working hard.”