Argentina’s Ariel Canete was among the players to take advantage of the unusually benign conditions at the Cariari Country Club in Costa Rica, as he carded a third round of three under par 68 to post a seven under par 206 aggregate and move into a one stroke lead at the European Challenge Tour’s Kai Fieberg Costa Rica Open 2006. Meanwhile, Canete’s fellow countrymen – Eduardo Argiro and Sebastian Fernandez – were setting a new course record of six under par 65.
If ever there was a day to go low at the Cariari Country Club it was on Saturday as the winds that protect the 6551 yard lay out stayed flat calm and allowed the players of the Challenge Tour and the Tour de las
Argiro and Fernandez put on the best displays of the 65 players who made the halfway cut, and in doing so brought an end to a course record that was over 30 years old and had been set by former Masters Tournament, US Open and US PGA Championship winner Raymond Floyd of the
Canete’s single shot lead from Colombia’s Jesus Amaya and Argentina’s Fabien Gomez could have been at least double that, but the 31 year old European Tour Member missed a disappointing two foot par putt on the 18th hole to drop his only shot of the day.
Despite that set back, Canete was pleased to have assumed the lead with one more round to play in this, the third and final joint-sanctioned event between the TLA and the Challenge Tour of the 2006 season.
“The bogey at 18th was a shame. The way I played that hole was not smart at all, and my putting was just awful,” admitted Canete. “I didn’t putt as well as I wanted. I doubted a lot and was not able to hit any good putts over the final stretch. Tomorrow I must play well all day. I guess that if I shoot three or four under, there will be a chance for me to win.”
With his third round score of four under, Amaya, a five time TLA winner, was one of the biggest movers of the day. “There was no wind at all in comparison to the last couple of days,” said the 36 year old. “It helps, but it also changes the way you have to play this course. Fortunately my ball striking was good and I was able to overcome the difficulties. I hope to be in contentions tomorrow.”
A bogey-bogey start could not stop Gomez moving up the leaderboard. He cancelled out those early dropped strokes with an eagle three at the par five 12th and birdies at the eighth, 14th and 16th holes. “I was ok after those two bogeys,” said Gomez. “I knew there was a long way to go. I’m playing well and I’m very confident, especially with the putter.”
Alexander Noren of