Lawrie takes lead in Open de Andalucia as Ferrie shoots 60!

England’s Kenneth Ferrie blitzed Parador de Malaga Golf to shoot a stunning third round of 60 to move into a share of second place at the Open de Andalucia. Ferrie finished on 11-under 199 and joined countryman Mark Foster just one shot off the lead.

Ferrie had only just crept into the weekend, his 1-under halfway total falling right on the cut line, and after an eagle and seven birdies on his preceding 17 holes, the Englishman almost holed his 6-iron approach to the last, which would have seen him break the 60 barrier. The ball shaved the cup but failed to drop, and Ferrie was left with a tap-in birdie.

The lead is held Scottish former British Open champion Paul Lawrie, whose third round of 65 saw him close on 198 for a 12-under total, as the Scot bids to win a first European Title since his Wales Open win at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2002.

Lawrie played his third round without a bogey – his only birdie thus far this week came at the opening hole of his second round – but might have looked at at least one dropped shot as he pulled his tee-shot on the par-3 13th hole, only for his ball to strike a spectator and rebound onto the green.

Joint first round leader, Sweden’s Johan Edfors shot a third round 65 to move back into contention and lay just three shots off the lead, but not one of the halfway leaders managed to maintain the momentum of their challenges.

Dutchman Maarten Lafeber slipped back to seven under with a third round of 71 and both Dane Jeppe Huldahl and Swede Rikard Karlberg were a shot worse off, following rounds of 72.

Last week’s winner, Rapahel Jacquelin gave himself every chance of back-to-back successes with a round of 65 to move into a share of fifth place on 8-under par, alongside Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar.

Tipster pick Jamie Donaldson had threatened to get involved, having reached 3-under par for his round and 6-under for the tournament by the time he had reached the turn, but three bogeys on the homeward nine were enough to halt the Welshman’s challenge and he eventually finished with a level-par 70.