Welshman Bradley Dredge takes a two shot lead into the final round of the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe after a three under par 69 at Gut Kaden carried him clear of the Swedish pair of Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie.
Dredge, chasing his second European Tour title following his victory in the 2003 Madeira Island Open, dropped an early shot on the second but hit back with an eagle three on the next hole, hitting a four iron pin high and converting the putt from 20 feet.
Birdies followed on the sixth, 13th and 16th holes but he was lucky to escape with a six on the par five 17th after hooking his tee shot into thick rough. He could easily have lost the ball but somehow not only found it but also managed to hack it back into play. Eventually he had a chance for par but the putt slipped by.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” said Dredge. “I didn’t play great this morning but 69 is a decent score round there so hopefully I can play a bit better this afternoon and just keep going. Unfortunately made a bogey on the 17th. Hooked the tee shot and could have lost it so a six was pretty good in the end. And a two shot lead – happy with that.”
Fasth, the overnight leader, looked to be falling off the pace when he dropped three strokes between the sixth and 12th holes but hit back with four birdies in the space of five holes from the 13th to finish at ten under par.
Stenson came flying out of the blocks with three birdies in his opening three holes but his two birdies on the back nine were negated by two dropped shots, one on the last, as he too finished with a 69 for a ten under par 206.
“Still got a chance,” said Stenson. “I’m a bit disappointed with the finish. Hit two beautiful drives on 17 and 18 and just got the wrong bounces. Came up a bit short on 17 with the second shot and three putted and on 18 it just bounced through into the rough. But I have been striking well all day so looking forward to the afternoon.”
Lawrie didn’t drop a shot but couldn’t buy a putt, making only two birdies in a round of 70 to complete the trio on ten under par.
Angel Cabrera, winner of the BMW Championship at Wentworth Club in May, and US Open Champion Michael Campbell head the group on nine under par, only three adrift of Dredge.
But big hitting John Daly once again struggled with the putter as he feel back with a 73 to finish the third round on six under par and six adrift.
With the first day lost to torrential rain, the final 36 holes are being played today with players heading out for the final round after a short break.
