McGrane and Lowry Steady in Spain

Overnight leader Johan Edfors of Sweden had a very different day in round three of the Open de España at the Real club de Golf de Sevilla following his 64 of Friday. Four bogeys after 6 holes set him an uphill task but he fought back with three birdies by the 13th only to card another bogey and then a double bogey to sign for a 78 and a drop to 14th place.

Mark Foster of England shot a three under par round to take the lead into Sunday on 12 under and three shots ahead of Raphael Jacquelin of France and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros and Carlos del Moral.

Of the Irish challengers Shane Lowry and Damien McGrane both shot 70’s to remain at 5 under in a seven way tie for 7th place.

Damien McGrane went out in level par with a birdie and bogey going on to card two birdies on 13 and 16 to finish in 34 shots. Shane Lowry had an almost identical card with one bogey and birdie on the front nine but then carded two consecutive birdies on 15 and 16 to leave him also 5 under for the event.

The Irish man in the news though was from Dungannon after Darren Clarke returned to Sevilla late into the morning hours having left the Real Club De Golf earlier on Friday in the belief that he was outside the cut - which had been projected at one under. In the end his level par total was enough to earn a weekend stay so no sooner had his flight landed in London he set about finding his way back to Spain on a Bank Holiday weekend.

Not surprisingly with little sleep there were few fireworks from Clarke apart from a double bogey on the par three 8th which he made up for with birdies on 16 and 18 to finish level par and tied 46th.

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