Darren Clarke leads the Irish challenge going into the final day of the Volvo Scandanavian Open following his second consecutive 70 in Malmo this afternoon. The Dungannon man is on 10 under par, just three shots adrift of overnight leaders, Moroccan Open winner Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood. The English pair lead the way with Poulter adding a 68 to yesterday's stunning 65, while Westwood carded a 69 to compliment two earlier rounds of 67 to keep him at the fore.
They lie one shot ahead of Colin Montgomerie and Sweden's Peter Hedblom, while former Open champion Paul Lawrie is another shot back after a brilliant 65, the best round of the day. Clarke is in joint sixth with Warren Bennett and France's Thomas Levet.
Poulter is chasing his third European Tour title and victory on Sunday would lift him significantly closer to the top 10 automatic qualifying places for the Ryder Cup from his current position of 20th. Of the 10 players between him and the top 10 playing this week only Levet, Ian Woosnam and Andrew Oldcorn made the halfway cut and with Woosnam well back on one over and Oldcorn disqualified on Saturday, Poulter is perfectly placed to take advantage.
Westwood was delighted simply to hole a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th to tie Poulter for the lead and ensure he would be in the final group again on Sunday as he seeks to successfully defend his title to seal a welcome return to form. Westwood had a six shot lead at the same stage last year but insisted his game was in better shape 12 months on after his well-publicised slump, a slump blamed on entering a comfort zone as he savoured his success over the last few years and a bad attitude when he returned to the course.
Montgomerie rattled in a 40-foot putt on the 18th to be just one behind the leaders while Lawrie had a new putter to thank for his 65 that thrust the Scot into contention for his first victory since winning the Open at Carnoustie two years ago.
Filed by Shane Murray
