Germany’s Marcel Siem was clinging to a share of the lead in the third round of the Irish Open as England’s David Howell piled on the pressure at Killarney on Saturday.
Siem, at 10 under par, led by one shot overnight from India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Denmark’s Soren Hansen, who were tied in second place.
But the world number 295 saw Howell card an impressive seven under par round of 64 to move into joint first place, while England’s Simon Dyson shared second place with Hanson at 10 under heading into the back nine. Howell, who last won a tournament at Wentworth in 2006, showed impressive composure as he ignored the heavy rain to make it five birdies in six holes on the back nine.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, after 17 holes, and Australian Richard Green, after 12 holes, were also in contention at nine under. Singh, who led after the first round, had fallen to three shots behind the leaders after going one over for the day in his first eight holes. Meanwhile, US Open champion Rory McIlroy looks to have slipped out of contention after carding a 72, his worst round of the tournament, which left him only three under for the tournament. McIlroy went into the weekend hoping to overhaul Siem but his challenge suffered a serious blow when he double-bogeyed the opening hole in windy conditions. The 377-yard first hole runs alongside Lough Leane, and after his tee shot finished on the beach in amongst stones, McIlroy advanced his ball only about 20 yards. His third only just made it onto the front of the green and from there he three-putted for a six.
