Joost Luiten will head into the final round of the Dutch Open with a one-shot lead after birdying two of the last three holes on Saturday. The 27-year-old home favourite is now in pole position to clinch his second European Tour win of the year, although he faces tough opposition from Miguel Angel Jimenez, Julien Quesne and Damien McGrane. Luiten&aposs impressive round of 66 – in which he chipped in twice – was enough to move him to 10 under for the tournament, as he made light of some torrid weather conditions at Kennemer. That gave him a narrow advantage after Jimenez, on his own in second, and Quesne – tied for third with McGrane a shot further back on eight under – had both carded 70s, with the Irishman McGrane shooting a three-under 67 for the day to move himself into contention. Spaniard Jimenez had shared the lead on Friday but an early bogey at the third threw him on a blustery day, although he gained the shot back on the 13th. It was also a mixed day for 33-year-old Quesne, who made the turn even par before birdieing the 12th and dropping a shot at the 17th. For Luiten, who is aiming to become the first home winner of the tournament for a decade, a poor start did not deter him as he followed up a bogey on the first by birdying four times in seven holes either side of the turn – including those two spectacular chips. He then rewarded the fans for sticking around on an a wet and windy day by making a putt from 40 feet on the 17th to thrill the galleries gathered to watch the conclusion of day three. The Dutchman was buoyed by the support, and he intends to keep going in the same vein in the hope of clinching the trophy on Sunday. “I am just trying to enjoy it, it&aposs great to see all the people out there even when it s raining and a day like this,” he told EuropeanTour.com. “It was tough, it was a day all about surviving, especially on the front nine when it was raining and very windy. “You knew it was going to be very tough, par was a pretty good score. If you said I would make par before we started I would probably have signed for it so four under is even better and I am pretty happy.”
Author: Omnisport