Park keeps nose in front

David Park takes a one-shot advantage into the final round of the Spanish Open as he attempts to lead from start to finish in Fuerteventura.

Park recovered from a double bogey on the seventh to card a third-round 71 for a 10-under-par total of 200.

Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez, seeking back-to-back victories following his Seville Open triumph on Sunday, is a shot behind after a 64, with Sweden’s Peter Hedblom and France’s Christian Cevaer in third on eight under.

Park’s room-mate and fellow Welshman Bradley Dredge was a shot further back in fifth after racing to the turn in 30 on his way to a 64.

Starting the day four shots clear of the field, Park’s lead was still intact until his two-iron tee shot on the par-three seventh found the water in front of the green, leading to a double-bogey five.

But he steadied the ship with two birdies and just one further bogey to keep in front of Gonzalez, who fired two eagles and two birdies in a flawless display.

“I struggled a bit today,” admitted Park. “I hit the ball okay but did not putt as well as I have been and kept leaving everything short.

“I was pleased that I stuck in there after the seventh. I would have liked to make a few more birdies but I’m happy that it was a bit off but I still managed to make a decent score.”

Park made an amazing start to his European Tour career, leading from the start of his first event in the Moroccan Open in 1999 only to lose to Miguel Angel Martin on the sixth hole of a play-off.

The following week he went one better by winning the Compaq European Grand Prix and finished 40th in the Order of Merit from just 15 starts, but struggled to recapture that form the following year and had to return to the qualifying school to keep his playing rights in 2001.

He has failed to finish in the top three in 134 events since his win and admitted: “It would be great to win tomorrow. I’ve not really thought about it much but it would end a long run without a win.”

Gonzalez won his third European Tour title in Seville last week despite admitting he was “embarrassed” by his erratic driving in the third round, when he did not hit a single fairway with his driver but still shot 69.

It has been little better this week with only five fairways found today and 17 out of 42 in regulation in total, but the 34-year-old put his immense power to good use for his two eagles.

The first in particular was extraordinary, driving through the green on the 401-yard sixth hole before chipping in from 35 yards, and by comparison a drive and seven-iron to 30ft on the 501-yard 17th was somewhat routine.

“I am feeling very confident with my driver and as a result I am managing to keep it on the fairway a bit better this week than last which is giving me a chance to birdie,” he said.

“And there are a few short par fours as well which are good for me. I have a good chance now, tomorrow I need to go out and concentrate again and we will see what happens.”

Dredge is seeking his second tour title and after going out in 30 today, admitted his mind went back to his victory in Madeira last year when he carded a third-round 60.

“I was thinking about it but there were a few tough holes on the back nine and I didn’t make enough of the chances I had,” said Dredge, who is sharing a villa with Park and fellow players Matthew Blackey and Richard Bland this week.

He added: “David and I know each other pretty well from our amateur days and we actually used to be foursomes partners for Wales. We had a pretty decent record together before he lost his game a bit!

“We used to room together and are sharing a villa this week so perhaps I can try and trip him up tonight.”