Lawrie slips but still heads the field

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie takes a five-shot lead into today’s final round of the weather-delayed Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open.

Lawrie extended his two-shot overnight advantage courtesy of a third-round 70 this morning for a 14-under total of 202, despite dropping three shots in his last six holes.

Playing partners John Bickerton and Richard Green both carded rounds of 73 to finish nine under, with Finland’s former British amateur champion Mikko Ilonen a shot further back.

The players then had a brief breather before heading back out to begin the final round over the arduous Wentwood Hills course.

Severe disruption to the second round on Friday because of fog, rain and then lightning meant the leading 18 players were forced to play 36 holes today, with the rest of the field having started their third rounds on Saturday afternoon.

Collated scores and totals after third round of Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, Newport

(Gbr&Irl unless stated, Par 72):

(x) denotes amateurs

202 Paul Lawrie 67 65 70

207 Martin Maritz (Rsa) 71 69 67, Lucas Parsons (Aus) 71 69 67, Richard Green (Aus) 65 69 73, John Bickerton 67 67 73

208 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 70 68 70

209 Jamie Donaldson 70 73 66, Nick Dougherty 69 72 68, David Drysdale 68 72 69, Paul McGinley 69 71 69, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 68 70 71, Roger Wessels (Rsa) 67 70 72

210 Jarrod Moseley (Aus) 71 70 69, Bradley Dredge 66 74 70, Rolf Muntz (Ned) 67 71 72, Jeremy Robinson 69 68 73, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 70 67 73

211 Peter Fowler (Aus) 72 70 69, Ian Poulter 71 71 69, Adam Mednick (Swe) 70 72 69, Charlie Wi (Kor) 71 70 70, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 73 68 70

212 Ashley Roestoff (Rsa) 72 71 69, Steve Webster 70 73 69, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 74 69 69, Elliot Boult (Nzl) 68 75 69, Stephen Dodd 72 70 70, Fredrik Andersson (Swe) 74 68 70, Ian Garbutt 71 71 70, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 71 71 70, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 73 68 71

213 Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 71 74 68, Stuart Little 72 71 70, Greg Turner (Nzl) 71 72 70, Anthony Wall 69 73 71, Lee Westwood 72 70 71, Graeme McDowell 73 69 71, Didier De Vooght (Bel) 67 74 72, Barry Lane 69 72 72, Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel) 69 72 72, Mark Roe 70 71 72

214 David Gilford 72 73 69, Magnus Persson Atlevi (Swe) 70 74 70, David Lynn 71 73 70, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 71 73 70, Sven Struver (Ger) 69 74 71, Shaun Webster 72 71 71, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 71 72 71, Mark Wiggett 71 71 72, Darren Clarke 68 74 72, James Kingston (Rsa) 65 75 74, Stephen Scahill (Nzl) 68 72 74

215 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 74 71 70, Paul Eales 73 71 71, Sion Bebb 70 73 72, Des Smyth 68 74 73, Sam Torrance 66 73 76

216 Ronan Rafferty 70 75 71, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 70 75 71, Richard Bland 74 70 72, Ian Woosnam 70 74 72, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 73 70 73

217 Alastair Forsyth 70 75 72, Miguel Angel Martin (Spa) 71 73 73, Philip Golding 73 70 74, Gary Emerson 71 72 74

218 Malcolm Mackenzie 71 74 73, Marc Warren 73 72 73, Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 71 72 75, Barry Hume 69 74 75

219 Iain Ferrie 72 73 74

220 Phillip Price 73 72 75

221 Mark Pilkington 74 68 79

Disq: Johan Skold (Swe)