Syme has deja vu at the Manor

CONNOR SYME birdied the last to get back into a share of the lead heading into today’s final round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

The Scot has now held the lead or a share of the lead in four of his last five rounds but crucially did not when the trophy was handed out at last week’s Celtic Classic at the same venue, finishing in a tie for third.

But he will have another chance to claim a first win on a top-tier circuit after his 18-foot putt on the par-five 18th handed him a third-round 70 and moved him alongside Swede Sebastian Soderberg at seven under.

The European Tour is playing the second of back- toback events at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue and Syme (right) is delighted to be in contention again in windy South Wales.

‘Finding myself in the same position as last week, I’ll just try and do the same stuff I’ve doing all week,’ he said.

‘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.

‘It would be amazing to win, having come close last week. You don’t really know how many times you’ll get those opportunities.’

Soderberg (above) defeated Rory McIlroy as part of a fiveman play-off to win last season’s Omega European Masters and he fired a bogey-free 68 to give himself a chance of a second victory inside 12 months.

Calum Hill’s 68 left him in a share of 11th on one under alongside Craig Howie, who signed for a 69 but Liam Johnston fell back to level par after a disappointing 75.