Stenson leads going into Heritage final round

Sweden's Henrik Stenson will take a one shot lead into the final round of The Heritage tournament at Woburn after he shot a 67 today.

The 2001 Benson and Hedges champion leads by one shot from Patrik Sjoland. Sjoland is seeking his first win since the 2000 Irish Open, having his third successive 68 to be one behind.

It was a disappointing day, though, for halfway leaders, Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Phillip Price. Both could do no better than 72 and dropped to joint fifth place.

A hat-trick of birdies from the seventh – putts of 25, seven and three feet - swept Sjoland into the lead, but then playing partner and compatriot Stenson, having holed a 45-foot eagle putt on the fourth, birdied the 14th and 15th.

Stenson then managed a four on the 514-yard last.

Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington’s hopes of playing in the HSBC world match play championship in three weeks’ time are hanging by a thread.

The Dubliner needs a top eight finish tomorrow to knock Ryder Cup team-mate Thomas Levet out of the 16-man field for Wentworth.

The first prize at Wentworth is the biggest in golf, but it is going to take something really special for Harrington to make it after a third round 71 left him joint 32nd with 18 holes to go.

“I’ve got to play very well now, but I’ve still got a possibility,” he said after sinking birdie putts of 25 and 15 feet on the last two greens. “These are the things you have to try to do.”

Harrington looks likely to miss out on the chance of golf’s two biggest cheques. He qualifies for the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa in December, where the winner takes away £846,000, but feels he has a responsibility to defend the Hong Kong Open the same week.

One of the players ahead of Harrington was 50-year-old Sam Torrance, who stands four under after a 69 on his return to the European tour.

Not so happy – in fact, far from it – was fellow Scot Paul Lawrie, Europe’s last winner of a major title. He continued his sorry season with a 75 to drop to five over.

Kilkenny's Gary Murphy is level with Harrington on two under par. He shot a 70 today.

It wasn't such a good day for Peter Lawrie, however, as he shot a 74 to leave him on two over par.