Thrilling finale on the cards as Dennis and Fowler do battle in the Italian job
CLARK DENNIS and Peter Fowler will go into today’s final round of the Senior Italian Open presented by Villaverde Resort in a share of first place on seven-under-par at Golf Club Udine.
Fowler, winner of the 2011 John Jacobs Trophy for topping the European Senior Tour Order of Merit, fired a fourunder-par 68 yesterday to join rookie Clark Dennis, who carded a two-under-par 70, at the top of the leaderboard.
Dennis started the day with three consecutive birdies and made a fourth on the eighth hole, before dropping a shot on the ninth hole to make the turn three-under-par.
The American birdied the 10th hole before a triple-bogey on the 15th hole saw him drop to six-under-par. He then recovered with a birdie on the 17th hole before finishing his round with a par at the 18th.
“I played very nicely today, and on 15 I didn’t really hit a bad tee shot,” said Dennis.
“I hit a good drive and it just went to the left, when I got to the ball it was plugged in a weed and I couldn’t really advance out of it.
“I should have pitched out sideways, but I was just 100 yards from the hole. I hit it in the water, dropped it in
another bad lie, hit it over the green and didn’t get up and down. I made a nice birdie on 17 though, so that made up for it.
“I feel as though I played just as well today, shooting twounder, than I did yesterday shooting five-under.
“I have won a lot of golf tournaments in my life, I’ve messed up a few lately but, hopefully, I’ll go out tomorrow and get the victory.
“Who wouldn’t want to be in the final group on the last day?”
Fowler, starting the day on three-under-par, carded five birdies with just the one bogey on the sixth hole to sign for a round of 68.
“I was consistent off the tee and rolled in a couple of putts,” said Fowler.
“My approach play was good, especially on the back nine. I’ve figured out, even if I’m playing poorly, I’ll battle it out and I’ll be there or thereabouts. Even if I’m playing poorly, I’m still confident that I’ll shoot under par.”
Hot on the pair’s heels are current Order of Merit leader Chris Williams and two-time Senior Tour winner Steen Tinning on six-under-par.
Six golfers, including former Ryder Cup players Barry Lane and Jarmo Sandelin, share fifth place on five-under-par.