The South African Van Velzen, leader of the Challenge de España with 15 under par with one round to play, and Pablo Ereño, 4 shots behind, were the main protagonists of the third round after setting a new course record of 8 under par on the links course at Isla Canela. Ereño will go into the final round with a chance of the title for another week while for the South African it would be his first victory on the HotelPlanner Tour.
The Madrid-born Pablo Ereño surprised by signing the best score ever achieved at Isla Canela Links, a 63, 8 under par, which has placed him in 8th position with a total of -11, just 4 shots off the leader with one round to play.
Pablo showed his claws to make the cut on the second round; with 5 holes to play he was out, but he produced his best golf to finish with 3 birdies and secure the weekend. That was how he went out this morning in one of the early groups, and although it seemed he had lost the rhythm of the previous day, starting with a par-bogey, he opened the birdie box and from the 4th hole signed 9 to set a new record on the Isla Canela links course, giving himself another week’s chance of victory and the possibility of becoming number 1 on the HotelPlanner Tour.
“Yesterday’s round was very strange with lots of ups and downs but golf is like that; it’s true that I was outside the cut with four holes to play and I finished well – said the member of the ProSpain Team of the RFEG. “Today I started average, I missed a short putt for birdie on the 1st, I hit it into the water on the 2nd from the tee, but then it is true that on the 3rd I made a good swing, a confident, aggressive and good swing, which gave me a bit of confidence to keep making good swings. I was very patient. In the end I made four birdies in a row from 13 to 16. I’m very happy with the round, I’m in a good position for tomorrow, which was today’s objective. The first two days I shot -2 and -1, which are not bad rounds either, it’s just that today I holed the important putts that you have to hole for a low round, which gave me the confidence of being on the green in good form, playing well, hitting good shots. If I keep being patient and playing my game, in the end they can come and today they came out. I feel good, I’m training a lot to come here and shoot good rounds, which is what I try to do every day and it seems to be working”.
About Pello Iguarán: “He caddied for me on Friday at El Prat in the DP tournament, and I liked it a lot, we connected very well. I discussed it with my coach and my father, with my team in general, and we thought having a person who has experience with the bag will help me; initially the aim was to help me win, which I have managed to do without him, but above all to help me be there week after week, to pick up points, move up to the Tour, and to achieve my goal which is to win. The truth is that this week is going very well, we’re working very well and I’m happy. Tomorrow, keep playing my game, keep being aggressive and we’ll see what happens”.
At the end of the day, the South African Ryan Van Velze leader of the tournament, finished his round with an eagle at the 15th and a birdie at the 18th to match the Spaniard’s feat, and with 63 shots took the lead with a total of 15 under par. A different kind of golfer who plays at the speed of light. He doesn’t think about it. He gets to the ball and hits. Zero doubts.
“Today I played really well. Yesterday was tough and I made four over par in my last nine holes in the afternoon, so I went out today trying to copy the things I did well on the first day. I putted well, kept my composure and made good decisions out there. I tried to stick to my plan and went hole by hole, holing good putts. It would be incredible to win tomorrow”.
The leaderboard is tight heading into the final round, with two players tied in second place one shot off the leader: the Brit Jamie Rutherford and the American Dan Erickson, and two shots back the Italian Matteo Cristoni, the Dutchman Will Besseling, and the Czech the American Dan Erickson, all at 13 under par.
Also notable is the round produced today by the Barcelona native Albert Boneta, who carded a clean sheet of mistakes, with 7 birdies to climb into the top 20.
“Things came together today”, says the fellow ProSpain member. “I’d been a bit off my swing these last few days and yesterday I had a good practice session after playing with my coach, we checked some adjustments and today things came together.
I was very calm throughout the round today, we had a good match with the people I was playing with, there was a great vibe and that helped. I struck good shots, I took advantage of the par 5s that I hadn’t on other days, good recoveries that helped me keep fighting and I holed good putts. It was a very good round.
My game is almost better than ever, but the results weren’t coming, so let’s see if the dynamic has changed a little. I think I’m going to be far from the lead, so well, shoot another good round and get into the top ten or whatever I can”.
Tomorrow from 8.05h the fourth and final round of the Challenge de España at Isla Canela Links will be played, starting from two tees. Pablo Ereño will start the final round at 9.40h and the leaders at 9.40h. Once play has finished, the trophy will be presented to the winner of the 27th edition of the Challenge de España, one of the oldest and most established events on the HotelPlanner Tour
