Date: May 20, 2007
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Padraig home win?

Padraig Harrington will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Irish Open as he looks to become the first home winner in 25 years, while Richard Green is four shots off the pace. Harrington carded a third-round 71 for a four-under-par total of 212 at Adare Manor, three ahead of England&aposs Simon Wakefield and Wales&apos Bradley Dredge. The 35-year-old Dubliner, looking to become the first Irish winner since John O&aposLeary in 1982, was one ahead at the start of play and made the perfect start with a birdie on the first. Wakefield hit straight back with a birdie on the second but promptly bogeyed the next to leave Harrington two clear of the field. On such a testing course it was never going to be plain sailing, however, and the lead changed hands several times over the course of the day. Green (72), meanwhile, produced two birdies on the front nine and a double-bogey to go with his even back nine to finish the round in par overall after scores of 71 and 73 on the first two days. Brett Rumford (73) is the next best Aussie at eight-under overall as Matthew Zions (80) had a disastrous third round and is 13-under all up.