Slattery on brink after superb round

Lee Slattery was so fed up with golf he packed the game in and went to work in a clothes shop.

Now he can dream of causing a shock or two on the final day of the Madeira Island Open tomorrow.

Slattery posted a superb 66 to finish on eight under par for the tournament after the third round.

That leaves him three shots adrift of the leader Jean Van de Velde, who bogeyed the last and one behind the Spaniard Pedro Linhart.

It was just the boost Slattery needed following a difficult time which saw him lose his card almost as quickly as he gained it.

Slattery stormed to the Challenge Tour title in 2004 after giving up his job in the shop after just six months, deciding it was not for him.

But he found it difficult at a higher level last year and is working his way back.

Slattery certainly kept the spectators on their toes, chalking up an eagle and seven birdies.

However he had triple bogey six and the short fourth.

He was joined at eight under by joint overnight leader Jarmo Sandelin, Damien McGrane and Simon Wakefield.