Biochemistry graduate Tobias Dier hopes to have found the winning formula as he takes a three shot lead into the final round of the North West of Ireland Open at Slieve Russell Hotel Golf and Country Club.
Dier pulled away from playing partner Stephen Dodd of Wales with three birdies over the closing three holes to complete a flawless round of 66 and move to 16 under par. Dodd closed with a 68 for a 13 under par total of 203, two ahead of Robert Jan Derksen of The Netherlands with another Welshman Mark Pilkington a further shot off the pace.
But Dier, the joint course record holder after a third round 65 last year, has been the man to beat from the outset having compiled rounds of 66, 68 and 66.
“If there is a winning formula it is to hit one shot at a time and don’t get ahead of yourself or think in any other directions,” he said. “That is what I have tried but I haven’t won yet. There are 18 holes to go and a lot of golf still to be played.”
Dier, who missed the last six cuts coming into this tournament, found himself leading a European Tour event at the halfway stage for the first time but the experience did not faze him as he proceeded to roll in three birdies on the front nine of 33. But a putt to go to 14 under par on the 11th stayed short and disrupted the 24 year old’s concentration. But, after driving in the water on the 13th, he saved par and then made another save two holes later from the front bunker.
“All of a sudden I thought it was all going my way and started to hit the shot at the target and it all worked out,” he added.
From being in a share of the lead Dier suddenly stepped up a gear, hitting a magnificent seven iron which covered the flag all the way on the short 16th to four feet for his fourth birdie of the round. One the next he hit a nine iron to 20 feet and calmly rolled in the putt and then put the icing on the cake with a chip to three feet on the par five 18th to open up a comfortable cushion over his nearest challengers.
“It felt nice and easy,” commented Dier. “This was my first experience of leading a European Tour event and I felt perfect. The front nine I was loving it. Hit one shot at a time and was in just the right frame of mind. Tomorrow we will see.”
Dodd is only marginally higher than Dier in the Volvo Order of Merit, occupying 124th place compared to the 145th of the leader, but has put himself into contention to secure his playing rights on The European Tour and claim his first title.
He said: “Just need to go out and play and see what happens. Three shots can always be made up. I played steady and didn’t make any mistakes really. Had one three putt on the fifth but that was the only mistake. But played nicely, hit it reasonably straight and kept it in play.”
Derksen, currently lying eighth in the Challenge Tour Rankings is virtually assured of earning his place on The European Tour next year and a good finish will make certain. A 69 after two rounds of 68 put him on 11 under par and five shots adrift.
Pilkington, who missed out on the play-off in the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open last week, continued his run of form with a round of 69 to lie on ten under par but has his work cut out if he is to make up a six-stroke deficit.
