Dredge dreaming of home victory

Bradley Dredge's quest to become the first home winner of the Wales Open sees him go into the final round tied for the lead at Celtic Manor tomorrow.

And while the 33-year-old does not care enough about this month's US Open to enter the qualifying tournament in Surrey on Monday this is a title he craves.

"I really want to win this," said Dredge after a six-birdie, four under par 65 took him to 10 under and alongside little-known German Martin Kaymer.

Only two weeks ago he saw what winning the Irish Open meant to Padraig Harrington, losing to the Dubliner in a play-off at Adare Manor.

"I think what Padraig said hits it right on the nail," commented Dredge when reminded that Harrington put victory next to the majors in terms of personal satisfaction.

"You always want to win your national title and I'm going to try to keep the trophy in Wales for a change. It's nice to have the support - a bit of a contrast to Ireland - and I'm really looking forward to it."

Victory or even second place would put Dredge back into the world's top 50 and while that would be a week too late for the US Open it would earn him a place in next month's Open at Carnoustie, the course where he lost to Scot Stephen Dundas in the final of the 1992 British amateur championship.

Finding himself in a share for top spot came out of the blue for Dredge really.

With two to play European Tour rookie Kaymer was 12 under, but he bogeyed them both whereas Dredge had scrambled a par on the 426-yard last after driving into a bunker.

Kaymer, 22, came through last season's Challenge Tour, winning two of only eight events he played. And he has already had a third-place finish in the Portuguese Open on the main circuit.

"I'm a little disappointed to have finished like that for sure, but the good thing is that I'm still tied for the lead," he stated.

"I just turned pro 18 months ago and things have gone very fast since then."

Even with the bogeys he was also round in 65, while the 64 of South African Richard Sterne - third in last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - catapulted him from 24th to joint third with Dane Mads Vibe-Hastrup (68).

Colin Montgomerie was on the same mark as Sterne at halfway, but is now nine adrift and joint 50th after a three-over 72 beset by more putting problem.

"Four three-putts," said the eight-time European number one, who has entered for next week's event in Austria before flying to the US Open and his attempt to make up for last year when, like Phil Mickelson, he double-bogeyed the last to lose by one.

"I don't know what to do really. Don't know what to do."

His last victory was in Hong Kong at the end of 2005.

Kenneth Ferrie, who shared the lead with Mickelson with a round to go before slipping to sixth, holed-in-one during a spectacular charge into contention.

But the English golfer, presented with a huge bottle of champagne for the three-iron shot on the 217-yard eighth, then had to think of someone to give it to.

"I had enough between the ages of 14 and 19 to last a lifetime, but I haven't had a drink for about four years," said Ferrie after a remarkable round of 65 that began with him playing the first five holes in four over par.

The 28-year-old covered the remaining 14 in eight under with six birdies in addition to his ace.

Ferrie is in a tie for ninth, but only three behind, while Ireland's Gary Murphy, England's Paul Broadhurst, South African David Frost and Dane Soren Kjeldsen are tied for fourth just two back.