Dredge: Runner-up 12 months ago

Leaderboard
-9 B Dredge
-8 R Finch
-7 L Westwood
-6 R Fisher
-6 M Ilonen

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Welshman Bradley Dredge fired a 66 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Irish Open at Adare Manor.

On a day of low scoring due to the softened greens, Dredge came home in 31 shots to storm to the top of the leaderboard on nine under par, one ahead of Englishman Richard Finch and two clear of Lee Westwood.

However, there was disappointment for the locals when Darren Clarke - who needed a birdie on the last to join Westwood on seven-under - instead took a triple bogey eight to slip back into the pack alongside Padraig Harrington.

But the day belonged to last year's runner-up Dredge, who dropped his only shot at the opening hole and was out in just one-under before he picked up five shots coming home, including a gutsy up-and-down at the 18th.

No silly mistakes

"I knew I needed to make a few birdies but nothing was happening for neither Darren nor me," Dredge told Sky Sports. "We were putting quite poorly and I missed quite a few good chances early on, so I just had to stay in there.

"Previously I've played the back nine well so I knew I just had to stay in there and not make any silly mistakes. It's a tough course and I just had to keep myself in the tournament.

"I was hitting my iron shots well so I was giving myself chances, and I managed to roll some nice putts in from that 10-15 foot range which you've got to do.

"It was a shame to lose last year but I seem to play the course quite well and see the lines well, particularly on the back nine, so hopefully I can just keep doing what I'm doing."

Finch was round in a flawless 65 but that was bettered by Westwood, who enjoyed a thunderous back nine - picking four birdies from the 14th before a second eagle of the day on the final hole.

"I just went out to enjoy it today - and that was very enjoyable," he said. "It was great.

"A 64 round here, you have got to class as a pretty good score. I pulled the four-iron at the last, but it was a good putt."

A group of three players - David Frost (66), Felipe Aguilar (67) and Robert Karlsson (69) lie three off the lead with Ross Fisher and Mikko Ilonen a further shot back.

Colin Montgomerie started the day at level par but a 73 leaves him well off the pace, six birdies cancelled out by five dropped shots and double bogey on a frustrating day for the Scot.