England’s Lee James produced the kind of performance that made him the European Challenge Tour’s Number One in 2002 with a sparkling third round of eight under par 64 to move into a two shot lead at the Kazakhstan Open and make himself favourite to become the first winner of a professional golf tournament to be staged in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Nine birdies and just one dropped shot ensured that the 32 year old moved to the top of the leaderboard ahead of a six strong group of players on 12 under, namely Ireland’s Stephen Browne, Julien Clément of Switzerland, the Spanish pair of Ivo Giner and Carl Suneson, Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik and England’s Sam Walker.
With those six players hot on James’s heels, and a further three players just three off the pace (Irishmen David Higgins, Colm Moriarty and Sweden’s Steven Jeppesen) the inaugural Kazakhstan Open is set for a thrilling finish.
James caused the most thrills of round three, making a quite unbelievable start by notching eight birdies in his opening ten holes to charge through the field. His only bogey of the day came on the 15th but was quickly cancelled out by further birdies on the 16th and 17th to shoot him into a two shot lead going into the final round.
The Englishman credited his upsurge in form to the work he has been doing over the last four weeks with his coach of 20 years, Graham Packer, and described his 64 as “my best round of the year.”
James is hopeful that he is back on the same road he flew down in 2002, when he won three events en route to winning the Challenge Tour Rankings.
“That was a very good day,” smiled James. “I played well all the way round – that was definitely the best of the year. Nine birdies and one bogey so it was very satisfying.
“I have been working hard for the last four or five weeks in trying to change my swing round a bit and I think that it’s gradually coming round. I have just been trying to change the whole plane of my backswing which has been a bit inside and I think the work I have been doing with Graham is starting to pay off.
“I have been working with Graham for the last 20 years. He came to my golf club in 1985 and has moved around a few times and I have just followed him round the country. I think you could say that he is a bit more than just my coach – he was the best man at my wedding so we are very close friends.”
