Otto in charge in Madeira

South African to take five-shot lead into final round

Last updated: 22nd March 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Otto in charge in Madeira

Otto: Five-shot lead

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South African Hennie Otto will take a five-shot lead into the final round of the Madeira Islands Open after carding a third consecutive 67 at Santo da Serra.

Otto was four clear overnight and retained that lead even after the 72 players who were unable to finish their second rounds on Friday due to high winds did so on Saturday morning.

He then extended that healthy advantage during the course of the third round as he strung together five birdies, 13 pars and not a single dropped shot to move to -15.

Otto made a stunning start to his third round as he birdied his opening three holes before adding a fourth on the sixth.

He then demonstrated his consistency with 11 successive pars before finishing in style with a birdie-three at the 18th.

"It was a great start then I missed a few good chances and left two or three out there but I'm playing really solid golf," Otto said. "They have to catch me."

The 31-year-old stands five ahead of Scot Alastair Forsyth who sparked his challenge with a superb 66, while Englishman Gary Clark (who shot a best-of-the-day 64) and Swede Fredrik Widmark are a further shot off the pace.

Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera is all alone in fifth on -8, while England's John Bickerton, Scot Gary Orr, Brazilian Adilson Da Silva and German Sven Struver - who was only four behind Otto at the start of the third round - are just about within striking distance at -7.

Bradley Dredge, who started the tournament as favourite, put together his best round of the week on Saturday as he came home with a 69, but still finds himself well down the field on -2.

Needing a win to earn himself a trip back to next month's Masters, the Welshman - some 13 shots behind Otto - now needs a miracle if he is to make the trip to Augusta.

However, the tournament now appears Otto's to lose with a first European Tour title now beckoning for the South African.

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