CAIRO: England’s Steven Tiley will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the $200,000 Egyptian Open after a third round 68 took him to nine under overall in the region’s oldest golf tournament.
The 27-year-old Georgia State University graduate was a late arrival from last week’s Singapore Open but heads the field from Germany’s Christoph Gunther and Swiss Andre Bossert on seven under par after both players carded 67.
“Playing here is a lot different from Singapore where I hardly got to use my wedge, which is one of my strengths,” said Tiley.
While Tiley will play alongside Gunther and Bossert in the final group, they know they face a last day charge from European Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie whose 69 means he lies just three shots back and will go out looking to cut the deficit just ahead of the less experienced final three ball.
Monty’s card of four birdies was again spoiled by yet another bogey on the par four eleventh — the fourth shot the Scot has given up to the hole in three days.
“I don’t know what it is about that hole — if I’d played it properly I’d be ahead by now,” smiled Montgomerie, the box office draw in a tournament sponsored by Citadel Capital, Drexel, Palm Hills, SODIC, BMi, Mercedes, AAIB and the Egyptian Tourism Authority.
But overall I can’t complain. I played OK today but just couldn’t make a putt — in fact I don’t think any of us could. I think I’ll need around a 66 tomorrow but more than anything I’m interested to see how the European Challenge Tour players handle events like this. It’s a tough job they do.”
While Monty continues to focus on landing his first title in two years, overnight leaders Carl Suneson and Thorbjorn Olesen saw their chances suffer a setback. Suneson found little joy with his putter shooting a 75 to drop into a tie for eleventh place.
