South African Branden Grace remains in charge at Dunhill Links Championship after third round
Saturday 6 October 2012 18:34, UK
Image:Branden Grace: Chasing fourth European Tour victory of the year
South African Branden Grace remains the dominant force at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland where he will take a four-stroke lead into the final round on Sunday.
Two of the three returning Ryder Cup players made the cut, but it will disappoint locals that the one to miss out was Paul Lawrie.
A 68 for three-under at St Andrews was never likely to be enough for him - "I putted like an idiot," he said afterwards - but Martin Kaymer's 69 took him to six-under and Peter Hanson matched that round to squeeze through on five-under.
Although Jose Maria Olazabal's four assistants - Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez - all failed to make it, lone American Dustin Johnson, winner of all his three games in the Chicago defeat, is alongside Kaymer thanks to a 67.
Grace said: "I didn't play particularly well. There were loose shots here and there, but this course mentally does it to you.
"I kept fighting, got it around and finishing with a birdie is a bonus.
"Everybody calls it 'Car-nasty' (a name given during the 1999 Open when the rough was some of the worst ever and a 19-year-old Sergio Garcia finished last on 30-over) and it showed you still have to hit good shots.
"I've dreamt of picking any trophy up on that bridge on the 18th (at St Andrews), so maybe this time tomorrow it happens."
