Wonder shot puts Whiteford into contention

A 40-yard chip-in for an eagle three helped rocket Scotland’s Peter Whiteford into contention in the third round of the Cadillac Russian Open.

The Kircaldy 25-year-old, who started the day five under, had gone to the turn in 35 virtually unnoticed after a mixed front nine of three birdies and two bogeys at the Le Meridien Moscow Country Club.

However, a birdie at the 11th was then followed by the eagle on the 561-yard 15th and he followed that up with another birdie to move to 10 under, one behind Sebastien Delagrange.

Bromley’s Andrew Butterfield was also 10 under after a remarkable run on the back nine where he he picked up five shots in as many holes to shoot up the leaderboard.

The 33-year-old had a bogey five at the seventh in an otherwise regulation front nine but he suddenly hit a purple patch from short 12th.

Birdie there was followed by another at the next and the 14th before an eagle three at the 15th lifted him alongside Whiteford and Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg.

Delagrange went to the turn in 32 after birdies at both par fives on the front nine, the second and fifth, also picking up shots at the seventh and ninth.

That put him nine under but picked up another shot at the 429-yard 13th before a sixth birdie of the day at the 561-yard 15th took him clear with three holes to play.

Overnight leader Fredrick Widmark dropped to eight under after a three-over-par outward nine of 38 and just ahead of him on nine under were Englishmen Shaun Webster and Ben Mason.

Earlier England’s Jamie Spence showed how easy the course was playing by recording a six-under-par 66.

Windlesham’s Roger Chapman holed his six-iron tee-shot at the 177-yard fourth for the highlight of his round of 69, which was good enough only to lift him to five under.