Slattery fires seven-under par 63 to share KLM lead with Cabrera-Bello

Sport360 staff 08:49 13/09/2015
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  • Purple patch: Lee Slattery is on the verge of a second successive victory.

    Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Lee Slattery head into the final round of the KLM Open tied on 16-under par after an extraordinary third day at Kennemer Golf and Country Club.

    Cabrera-Bello got off to a flying start, carding six birdies, an eagle and a solitary bogey on his front nine before safely parring the final nine holes to add a third round 63 to opening rounds of 65 and 66.

    England’s Slattery covered the front nine in 32 before mixing an eagle with two birdies and a bogey after the turn to finish in a share of the overnight lead.

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    Scot Paul Lawrie trails the leaders by one stroke after firing seven birdies on his way to a flawless 63.

    Meanwhile, Magnus A Carlsson carded the 40th hole-in-one of the current European Tour season at the short eighth, holing his tee shot from 222 yards, before Wade Ormsby added another ace at the 11th.

    Slattery, winner of last week’s Russian Open, continued his hot form, following up a par at the first with three consecutive birdies before making another gain at the ninth.

    He then recovered from a bogey at the 10th by holing his 10-foot eagle putt at the 12th to move to 14-under par before making further gains at the 15th and 17th to complete a stunning 63.

    A thrilled Slattery said: “It’s like a dream-come-true at the minute. I went into last week with a lot of pressure on and won, and then I’ve come here with no pressure whatsoever and just been trying to play good golf. 

    “It’s a fabulous feeling and I feel a lot more relaxed this week than I was last week.

    “My first win in 2011 took a lot out of me because it was after years and years and years of hard work, and it was a lifetime ambition to win a European Tour event.

    "That was a special moment for me, but last week meant a lot to several other people as well, so that made it more special in some ways. 

    “Over the years I’ve been told a lot that I should be doing better, that I’ve under-achieved. I knew deep down that there are certain aspects of my golf swing I struggle with, and I had to get stronger. 

    “It’s just been a lot of hard work and its finally paying off.”

    Cabrera-Bello, whose round included a chipped-in eagle from 50 yards, said: “I sunk a very long putt on the first hole and after that all the other birdies were pretty much tap-ins. 

    “Even the bogey I had was a three-putt from five feet, so it could’ve been better, but I’m really pleased that everything went my way.”

    Thomas Pieters is one stroke further back on 14-under par, with Mikko Ilonen, Morten Orum Madsen and Wade Ormsby another shot behind.

    Halfway leader Soren Kjeldsen sits five shots off the pace on 11-under after mixing two birdies with three bogeys yesterday.

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