Duo continue Valderrama tussle

The ding-dong battle between Spaniard Carlos Rodiles and Swede Fredrik Jacobson for the Volvo Masters continued at Valderrama this morning.

The pair completed their third rounds tied for the lead on 10 under par – six clear of third-placed Anders Hansen and seven ahead of English trio Greg Owen, John Bickerton and Brian Davis.

Among 30 players unable to finish last night because of fading light, Rodiles and Jacobson resumed on the 13th with the Malaga golfer two ahead.

However, he bogeyed immediately, had another on the 16th and then Jacobson - six in front on his own at one point yesterday – pitched to six inches for a birdie on the long 17th.

Chasing his first European Tour title, Rodiles responded with a 25-foot birdie putt on the last after a fine approach from behind trees. It gave him a 69 to Jacobson’s 71.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie also birdied the last, but his 70 left him in joint seventh nine adrift.