Irish Open: Aaron Rai one clear from Meverick Antcliff to enter the final round
Aaron Rai & # 39; s only European Tour victory came on the Hong Kong Open in 2018 -8 ] A Rai (Eng); -7 M Antcliff (Aus); -6 D Burmester (SA), O Lengden (Swe), J Wattananond (Tha); -5 L Herbert (Aus), T Tree (Eng); -4 J Smith (Eng), J Catlin (USA), J Harding (SA) Selected others: -3 S Hend (Aus): +1 S Gallacher (Scot); +2 J Sugrue (AM) (Ire) +3 R Ramsey (Sco); +4 J Caldwell (NI) R Rock (Eng); +5 G Coetzee (SA), +7 C Moriarty (Ire); +8 M Power (Ire) am; +9 D McGrane (Ire)
Aaron Rai fired a third round 67 to the brim in front of Maverick Antcliff at the Irish Open at Galgorm Castle.
The Englishman Rai and Antcliff from Australia started the round with part of the lead at five under.
Rai moved down eight to lie one in front of Anticliff with a group of three players two behind.
Amateur James Sugrue is the best of the Irish players at two over, but Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington missed the cut in a disappointing home game.
The fate of Open champion Lowry and three-time major winner Harrington was confirmed Saturday morning, when the second round ended due to a Friday weather delay.
Sugrue is in 25th place with Clandeboye player Jonathan Caldwell four over, Colm Moriarty seven over, amateur Mark Power back again – all after having carded three-over 73s – and Damien McGrane (75) on nine.
Rai Holds Out to Stay Up Front
Rai and Antcliff were joined in Saturday's final group by Robert Rock, who struggled to a 78 to an end to put to his hopes for the title.
The leadership often changed hands as the sun shone in Galgorm, with playing conditions far better than Friday's cold and wind.
Rai posted five birdies and two bogeys in a confident display, while Antcliff & # 39; s short game came to the rescue in the final holes while the 27-year-old remained in the hunt for a first European Tour title.
Maverick Antcliff has won three times in the China Tour
A second tour title beckons 25-year-old Rai, but includes the chasing peloton Dean Burmester, Jazz Janewatt ananond and Oscar Lengden just two behind.
Toby Tree and Lucas Herbert are five below par, with Jordan Smith, John Catlin and Justin Harding four off the pace.
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