Errors cost Lowry lead

Shane Lowry made two mistakes he could ill afford as he battled today to become just the third amateur ever to win a European Tour event.

Joint leader with England’s Robert Rock entering the final round of The 3 Irish Open at County Louth, the 22-year-old was out in front on his own again after a birdie at the long third, but he failed to get up and down from short of the ninth and 11th greens.

The bogeys sent Lowry to 15 under and down to third place, two behind Rock and one behind Swede Johan Edfors.

Rock, chasing his first Tour win as well after two second place finishes this season, made a seven-footer for birdie at the 531-yard seventh and had still to drop a stroke in the windy conditions.

Edfors birdied the fourth and ninth to maintain his hopes.

Rock bogeyed the 12th to fall into a tie with Edfors, but the Swede was the one to drop a shot at the next and so Lowry was still very much in it.

With five to go Rock stood 16 under, Edfors and Lowry 14 under and Scot Alastair Forsyth,’s birdie at the 14th left him only two back.