Fitzpatrick fends off Rory and Rai to lead way at Italian Open
MATT FITZPATRICK heads into the final round of the DS Automobiles Italian Open with a one-shot lead but has Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai breathing down his neck.
US Open champion Fitzpatrick coped brilliantly with the blustery conditions at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club yesterday and closed his third-round 69 with a birdie to lead on his own.
World No2 McIlroy and Englishman Rai sit one shot behind Fitzpatrick in a tie for second on nine under after contrasting rounds.
Halfway leader McIlroy mixed three birdies with three bogeys in his 71, which he finished with a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
Rai, meanwhile, fired two eagles and two birdies in a flawless 65 to make a huge move up the leaderboard.
Fitzpatrick, who bounced back from a front-nine bogey with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th, admitted it would be special to get his hands on the trophy.
He said: ‘It would mean the world. I love coming to play the Italian Open. I love the country. I love playing golf here. The fans are fantastic and to win tomorrow would be a great feeling.’
McIlroy, who like Fitzpatrick will be hoping to represent Europe when the Ryder Cup is hosted at this venue next year, knows he faces a tough task on Sunday.
He said: ‘I think national opens are pretty important. I’ve been quite fortunate to have won a few.
‘This would be another great one to add to the list. So big incentive tomorrow to go out and play well.
‘I know it will be a tough day. Fitzpatrick is solid. These are the sort of conditions that he relishes. He’s going to be tough to beat.’
Rai was pleased with his day’s work, saying: ‘I hit a lot of fairways, which is key this week. Hit a lot of good iron shots and made some key putts as well today.
‘Putts around the turn, seven and eight for par, and I made eagle on the ninth and 12th, and that helps keep the round going.’
France’s Victor Perez, American Kurt Kitayama and Australian Lucas Herbert were in a three-way tie for fourth on eight under.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre sits a shot further back on seven under after an eventful third round.
The Oban left-hander bagged six birdies between his eighth and 18th holes but bogeys on 15 and 16 saw him settle for a four-under 67.
INES LAKLALECH secured a historic win at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France by becoming the first Arab and Moroccan woman to win a Ladies European Tour title.
Laklalech, a 24-year-old rookie, is also the first North African woman to win on the tour after defeating England’s Meghan MacLaren with a bogey five on the first play-off hole at Golf Barriere in Deauville.
MacLaren held a two-shot lead with four to play but was pegged back by Laklalech before both players parred the 18th to finish level on 14 under par to force a play-off.
Laklalech, whose husband Ali is also her caddie, said: ‘It feels amazing. I don’t have any words.
‘I’m surprised because the last time I was in contention was in Sweden at the Skafto Open and I lost it over the last few holes.’
Laklalech, a big fan of Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur, added: ‘Morocco is doing a great job in promoting golf and I think having a Moroccan winning on a major tour will be huge for the country.’