Ian Poulter takes a one shot lead into the third and final round of the 59th Italian Open Telecom Italia at Olgiata Golf Club in his bid to win the title for the second time in three years.
Poulter followed his opening 61 with a five under par 67 to move to 16 under par 128, just one stroke outside the record low 36 hole sub-par total on The European Tour, to lead by one from Paul Lawrie, who shot a second round of 63.
The thunderstorms of Friday gave way to clear skies, allowing play to continue once early morning fog had cleared. Poulter wasted no time in making a mark, holing-in-one on the 16th hole with a four iron. It was his third ace on The European Tour following one in this event last year and his first professional ace in the Heineken Classic at the start of the 2001 season. After hitting the ball just the once it went straight back in the bag to be mounted along with the other two balls.
“I hit a four iron, straight at the stick and as soon as I hit it I knew it was going to have a reasonable chance,” said the 2000 champion. “It pitched seven feet short, checked up and dropped in. There was a few people watching. It’s my third hole in one and I’ve won nothing for any of them.”
Poulter followed that with four birdies and just the one dropped shot on the par three second to pull clear of the field.
“I’ve been playing great for six weeks and now it is continuing,” added Poulter. “It’s nice. Steady stuff out there again today. It is always hard to follow a 61 and five under is acceptable.”
Poulter had finished his round and posted the target long before Lawrie stepped foot on the first tee, leaving the Scot the daunting task of making up a ten shot deficit. A flawless 63 followed to leave the 1999 Open Champion only one shot off the pace. The Scot even had two golden opportunities to catch Poulter but a four foot putt on the par five 15th for birdie lipped out and another birdie chance on the par five 17th from eight feet also stayed above ground.
“I played really nicely again,” said Lawrie, winner of the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open earlier this year. “I missed chances at a couple of the par fives, the 15th and 17th but you can’t grumble with a 63. Disappointing not to birdie those two holes as I was hitting a little four iron into the 15th and a two iron into 17th. Two shots dropped you feel but it’s a good score.
“It’s not great when you stand on the first tee and you are ten behind especially after a good first day but my attitude was really good and I got a good score and gave myself a chance for tomorrow. I am swinging it well and rolling it well.”
Emanuele Canonica gave the home fans plenty to cheer about after a seven under par 65 took him to 13 under par and only three shots off the lead as he tries to become the first Italian to win on home soil since Massimo Mannelli in 1980.
“Three shots is a lot but not impossible and I feel confident I can catch Poulter even if with two rounds still to go it would have been easier,” said Canonica. “I don’t feel to much pressure for being an Italian, sure it would be lovely to be the first Italian winning the Italian Open after so many years, but when I’m there outside I just try to play well and do my best.”
Australian Jarrod Moseley is a shot further back on 12 under par after a second successive 66 while Henrik Nystrom and Angel Cabrera lie on 11 under par, Cabrera charging through the field with an 11 under par 61, which would have matched Poulter’s course record but the preferred lies.
The cut fell on three under par with 70 professionals and one amateur progressing to the final round.
