O’Hara Czechs out the top of the Celadna leaderboard with third-round 65

Scotland’s Steven O’Hara shot a fantastic third-round 65 at the Czech Open to sit level with Oliver Fisher at the top of the leaderboard ahead of the final round today.

O’Hara had a quiet start to the week before storming up the leaderboard with seven birdies in a blemish-free third round while Englishman Fisher joined him in the clubhouse lead later on.

An eagle at the par-four 11th was the pick of the round for Fisher, who signed for a 68, although he dropped a shot after bogeying the 12th and the 22-year-old told europeantour.com he was having fun in Celadna. He said: “I’m really enjoying my golf at the moment, and I’ve got a great caddie on the bag. I had a lot of fun out there – it’s where you want to be, not struggling to make the cut.

“It’s been a while since I’ve led a tournament, but I’m holding it together pretty well at the moment. I’m looking forward to it tomorrow. I’ve always held my own whenever I’ve been in contention in the past.

“Obviously I haven’t won before, but I’ve given myself a good chance tomorrow, and that’s all I can ask for. There are times this season when I haven’t enjoyed being out there, so I’m going to make the most of it.”

O’Hara was also happy with his performance as the 31-year-old looks for his first win on the European Tour. “I’ve been making my fair share this week, and my scores have reflected that,” he said.

“My driving and greens in regulation stats have been pretty good, so if I could just become even an average putter, I probably wouldn’t be struggling like I have done.

“I’ve been guilty of changing my putter every other week in the past, but I’ve found one I like and I’m in a good groove on the greens now, so I think I’m just going to stick with it.”

Overnight leaders Mikael Lundberg and Jose Manuel Lara remain in contention despite disappointing third rounds with Lundberg tied third with Gary Boyd and Gaganjeet Bhullar on eight under. Lara is two shots further back, tied for sixth with Damien McGrane and David Drysdale.

n American Tommy Gainey carded a five-under 65 to grab a three-shot lead over a chasing pack led by a hard-charging Ernie Els after two rounds at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Gainey, who shared a one-shot overnight lead with Jeff Quinney, took advantage of ideal early scoring conditions at the Sedgefield Country Club, mixing six birdies with his only bogey of the week to reach the midway point at 12-under 128.

“I try to make as many birdies as I possibly can. That’s what this game is all about,” Gainey, who opened with a seven-under 63, told reporters.

“I haven’t really accomplished anything in two days. The only thing I’ve accomplished is I’ve set myself up in good shape going into the weekend.”

Els, who needs a strong finish to secure a spot in the lucrative season-ending FedExCup play-offs, got his day off to a wobbly start with a bogey at the first but was error free there-after, returning a four-under 66.

The big South African began the week sitting 126th in the FedExCup standings and needs to nudge his way inside the top 125 to clinch a place in next weeks Barclays Classic, the first of four play-off events.