Russell goes three shots clear at top

Published on 30/06/2012 00:00

RAYMOND Russell will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Challenge Provincia di Varese after scorching to a four-under-par 66 on day three.

At 14-under-par, the 39-year-old from Prestonpans is ahead of Italian Marco Crespi, while four players – Andrew McArthur, Alessandro Tadini, Peter Uilhein and Daniel Vancsik – are another shot back at ten under.

The majority of Russell’s progress came on the front nine, with birdies at the fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth, and, after another at the tenth, he had seven pars and a bogey, at the 16th.

“The front nine I played really well,” said Russell, who has never won on the Challenge Tour but claimed the 1996 Air France Cannes Open on the European Tour. “The first 11 holes were really solid and I didn’t miss from inside six feet. Then I didn’t make birdie on the par-5 12th which slowed my momentum a bit and I hit my worst shot of the week off the tee at the 16th and made bogey there. But I’m happy and I’m pleased with the way I’m playing.”

Russell missed almost all of last season with a virus, and even victory today would not make up for a wasted year. “It was awful,” he said. “I’m fully recovered now and playing well again, but I’d worked very hard to get back on the European Tour only for that to wreck the season.”