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| | Saturday, 9 November, 2002, 17:48 GMT Harrington facing uphill task  Goosen suffered in the windy conditions Padraig Harrington's hopes of finishing top of the European Order of Merit remain in the balance after a disappointing third round from Retief Goosen at the Volvo Masters in Valderrama. On a day when unknown Welshman Bradley Dredge took the lead, Harrington struggled to a three-over par 74 and Order leader Goosen floundered to a 78 to give the Irishman a one stroke advantage going into the final round.
Harrington needs to finish significantly ahead of Goosen to claim the Merit crown, with �14,734 (23,119 euros) separating the pair. The Irishman cannot afford to do any worse than 27th if he is to claim the top spot and that looks out of his reach after three disappointing rounds. He is certain to rue bogeys at the 16th and 17th which forced him down the leaderboard at a vital time. Without those blemishes, he would have a stronger chance going into the final day. There was much better news for Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, however, as he moved into contention for his first title in more than a year.
The 39-year-old, who won this competition in 1993, will begin the final round one shot behind the unlikely leader, Welshman Dredge. Montgomerie carded a one-over par round of 72 and shares second place with Argentine Angel Cabrera, who had led by four at the halfway point. Cabrera struggled to a 76 which was about average in these horrendous conditions. Behind those three lie the ominous figures of England's Justin Rose, just three shots off the lead on level par and German Bernhard Langer at one over. Dredge recorded his second round of 71 (level par) to take his place at the top of the leaderboard. The 29-year-old former Walker Cup amateur, runner-up in the 1992 British amateur championship, has already earned over �480,000 this year thanks to nine top 10 finishes. But without a European Tour win, his best finishes were second in the Italian Open 12 months ago and joint second in the European Open this July. His round contained double bogey sixes on both the second and 14th - he four-putted there - but superb pitches to 18 inches and four feet on the last two holes took him into pole position. He will be partnered by Montgomerie for the final 18 holes of what should be an enthralling day. | |
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