Final hole makes a muppet of 'Gonzo'

Steve Hawdon
Sunday 16 May 2010 00:00 BST
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Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño three-putted the last at Pula in Majorca yesterday but home hopes still burn fiercely for a Spanish victory in today's final round. The mistake allowed Pelle Edberg of Sweden to catch "Gonzo" – the two are together on four-under par.

Four times a winner on the European Tour, though never in his own nation, the 29-year-old from Madrid kept a bogey off his card in the tricky conditions until he came to the par-three 18th. Then the shaky putting which has haunted him since his last victory – a play-off success over Lee Westwood in the 2008 British Masters at The Belfry – returned with a vengeance.

The leaderboard promises a thrilling final-round shootout in tough conditions, with Chris Wood of Bristol in touch on one-under and harbouring hopes of a maiden win.

Edberg, who was the joint halfway leader with James Kingston, followed his stunning second-round 64 with a 71, mixing four birdies with five bogeys. That was better than Kingston managed. The 44-year-old South African did not have a birdie and bogeys on the third, 10th, 12th and 14th meant a 74 and a drop into a tie for sixth. The Australian Scott Hend shot a best-of-the-day 66 to move from ninth to third. He will resume one shot off the pace.

In the US, after a Friday washout caused by heavy rain, thunderstorms and a tornado warning, the organisers of the Valero Texas Open were scrambling to catch up last night. South Africa's Ernie Els, one of few big names in the event, shot into contention with five birdies in his second-round 67.

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