BETTER NOT COUNT ON A CANTER
Gallo eyes final flourish as Bernd Made to work
Stephen Gallacher is sure he’s got another “low one in the bag” as defending Made In HimmerLand champ Bernd Wiesberger chases a wire-to-wire win.
The Austrian will take a oneshot lead over Swede Alexander Bjork into today’s final round in Denmark after a three-under 68 left the Ryder Cup hopeful 14 under.
Englishman Laurie Canter surged through the field at the European Tour event with a sevenunder 64 that leaves him sitting third, three shots off Wiesberger.
Gallacher began moving day just four off the summit but a 70 for an eight-under-par tally saw him drop to a share of 14th.
The good news for the 46-yearold Scot is he’s among a swathe of players within six shots of the lead.
Gallacher carded a sublime 64 on Friday as he stepped up his bid to emulate the group of golden oldies, including US PGA winner Phil Mickelson, who’ve savoured success of late. Although that goal may have to wait until after this week in Germany as he was off to the range late to fix a few issues following a round that included three birdies and two bogeys.
He said: “I’m a bit disappointed as I had a lot of chances out there. I didn’t hit the ball as well as I did on Friday.
“I also got out of position three or four times with three or four shots and if I didn’t do that, I could have been 12 under.
“That just killed me, so that’s why I am disappointed.
“I just made a couple of bad decisions at the wrong time.
“Apart from that, I’ve walked off shooting under par and after shooting a 64 on Friday I still feel there is a low one in the bag. I will just keep plodding away.”
Aberdonian David Law birdied four of his final eight holes in a 67 to be one behind Gallacher on seven under. Calum Hill signed for a 70 to be on five under, while the tourney’s top-ranked, Robert MacIntyre, will be looking forward to this coming week off.
The Oban lefty managed just two birdies in a 70 that leaves him in a share of 42nd on four under.
MacIntyre was pipped to this title on the final day in 2019 – last year’s event was called off amid the pandemic – by Wiesberger.
And the 35-year- old Austrian – a seven- time Tour winner – found his touch on the back nine with four gains in eight holes.
Birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th were followed by a pitch to three feet on the 17th,h, although he did three-puttutt the last to drop a shot.
The world No. 6 5 slammed the decision too move the tee back on thee 18th and place the pinn on the narrowest sectionn of the green between water and a bunker. He said: “In combination with the flag I don’t think it’s a good decision. We have to move the tee box up for the first two rounds because the fairways are so soft and that’s a great pin for that.
“I had a great drive and was between five and six iron, so I don’t really agree with what they did there on the last. But it’s the same for everyone and I made three putts unfortunately.”
Richard Bland, who at 48 became the Euro Tour’s oldest first-time winner at the Belfry two weeks ago, is four shots off the pace in a tie for fourth following a 66. A top-10 finish today will bag a slot at next month’s US Open. p