Benn opens big lead in Austria

England’s Benn Barham continued his excellent form in the third round of the Austrian Open to give himself a terrific chance of his first European Tour title. The 33-year-old from Kent carded a four-under-par round of 67 to secure a three-shot lead going into the final round in Vienna tomorrow.

Barham, who had also topped the leaderboard after the first two rounds, wobbled on the seventh with a double bogey but recovered strongly and managed six birdies to take himself to a 17-under total.

Denmark’s Soren Hansen is his closest rival three shots back with the 2007 tournament winner Richard Green, from Australia, a further stroke back in third.

Damien McGrane moved up the leaderboard into a share of 15th spot after he carded a second successive four-under-par 67 to move to eight under. The highlight of the Meath golfer’s round was an eagle two at the par-four 12th, while he carded five birdies and three bogeys also.

Gary Murphy is two shots behind McGrane on six under after he posted a one-over-par 72.

Scotland’s Scott Drummond, who teed off in third place, dropped out of contention with a disappointing round of 72, one over par, to leave himself back in joint seventh spot and eight shots off the pace.

England’s Richard Bland equalled the best round of the day with a 65 to take fifth spot going into the final showdown, but still seven shots behind Barham.

Victory for Barham would secure his card on the European Tour for a fourth consecutive year and he said: “It was the way you want to play every week: hit fairways, hit greens and hole a few putts.

“We all want that and if you could bottle these feelings and shots you would be onto something. It makes you wonder sometimes what you have been doing the last seven months. But you learn and it makes you stronger.”

Meanwhile, a sensational chip-in for an eagle three on the final hole kept Australian Peter Senior on course for his first European Senior Tour title in the Casa Serena Open in the Czech Republic.

The 50-year-old, runner-up in the last Senior Tour event at Woburn two weeks ago after taking a four-shot lead into the final round, looked out of sorts for most of his second round but made amends with a spectacular finish to the afternoon.

Two shots off the pace with two holes to go, the four-time European Tour champion fired a five-iron to four feet for a birdie two on the short 17th before chipping in from 50 yards left of the pin on the 554 yard 18th to regain the pole position he had held after his course record opening 64.

“Golf can be a really funny game at times and I think I just proved that,” said Senior who finally carded a 69 for a nine under par total of 133 and a one-shot lead going into tomorrow’s final round over his fellow Australian Noel Ratcliffe and Peter Mitchell of England.

Defending champion Bernhard Langer lurks menacingly in a share of fourth place alongside England’s Nick Job, only two shots behind.

Des Smyth is four shots behind Senior after he fired six birdies and a double-bogey in a four-under-par round of 67. Denis O’Sullivan is two shots further back on three under after he carded a 70.