Darren Clarke will go into the final round of the European Open as one of the chasing pack hunting for overnight leader Philip Price after the Ulsterman claimed to have a 'boring type of day' at the K-Club today.
Price held his nerve, despite a few anxious moments coming down the home stretch, to post a five under 67 for a third round lead of 14 under par. Meanwhile, his playing partner Clarke couldn't generate any momentum and had to settle for a 70, leaving him three behind the Welshman on 11 under.
Clarke shares that mark with an international selection, who played their way into contention for the Stg£330,330 first prize, including Argentina's Angel Cabrera (66), Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin (67), Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty (68) and Alistair Forsyth (69) from Scotland.
"As you can see from my card, it was a boring type of day for me out there," explained Clarke who only managed one birdie on each nine - both at par fives, the fourth and 10th - among 16 pars. "Even though I wasn't swinging particularly well, I still gave myself chances but couldn't convert the birdie putts."
Where Clarke was the model of consistency despite not feeling in the groove, Price stormed out of the blocks with three birdies in his opening four holes. "That was a nice start, it settled me down and triggered off a good round on a very difficult course," explained the Ryder Cup player.
Having reached the turn in three under 32 before adding further birdies at the 12th, 15th and 16th all Clarke could do was hang onto the leader's coattails. Then Clarke's, and the rest of the fields, reprieve came at the 17th when Price landed his drive adjacent to the water hazard. Debating whether to take a drop or not, the Welshman opted to pitch out, and did so competently, before pitching and putting for a hard-earned bogey.
"The 17th was a very anxious moment for me," said Price who also kept his nerve to make par on the last after finding the bunker from the tee. "All in all though I'm happy to have a three shot lead."
As for Clarke he is still happy to be in contention: "The way I was swinging the club I could have made a lot of bogeys. Instead I'm only three behind and haven't played myself out of it."
Several groups ahead Colin Montgomerie had an erratic day with the silver lining coming by way of a hole- in-one at the 187yard par three 12th. The Scot hit a seven-iron, which bounced twice on the green before rolling into the cup to notch up his eighth ace in tournament play. Up until then Monty had a run of four bogeys in five holes from the sixth and eventually had to settle for a 73, dropping back to four under.
Gary Murphy was the next best placed of the Irish contingent. The Kilkenny golfer improved to three under with today's 71 but he was disappointed to have bogeyed the 17th and failed to make a birdie at the last.
"My ball plugged in the bank off the tee at the 17th. Luckily I was able to get it back onto the fairway and I suppose the five felt like a par. Then I pushed my approach at the last and failed to make birdie," explained Murphy afterwards.
The 30-year-old still has high hopes of a good finish tomorrow. "I finished 29th last year so my goal is to improve on that. If I shoot mid 60's and get into the top 10 that will get me a start at Loch Lomond next week. Otherwise I plan on going to England next Friday for the Open qualifying."
Paul McGinley, the K-Club touring pro, was 'satisfied' with his two under 70 to leave him one under going into the final day.
Elsewhere, there wasn't much shouting to be done today from an Irish perspective. Padraig Harrington was on dawn patrol and failed to make any headway, settling for his third consecutive 73 of the week.
The world number eight started brightly enough, two birdies in the first four holes, but a lack of sharpness was his undoing as he failed to make another birdie all day. "I need to get in shape mentally, sharpen up and get more focused," said Harrington with one eye on the Open at Royal St George's in a fortnight.
"I've got to make the most out of my scores instead of making the worst, which is what I'm doing at the moment," explained the Dubliner who will take next week off and spend some time playing links golf in Ireland ahead of the Open.
Damien McGrane was next of the early Irish starters but he too was unable to make up ground. The Wexford professional reached the turn in level par 35 before dropped shots at the 13th and 15th surrounded a birdie at the 14th. Another bogey at the 17th followed by a birdie at the last left McGrane, like Harrington, on three over after today's 74. Graeme McDowell also lost ground when he too carded a 73 to drop back to one under.