BERNIE McGUIRE
Associated Press
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Oliver Wilson of England closed in on a maiden European Tour title when he moved three strokes clear of the field in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday.
Wilson, playing with an invite as he lost full playing rights on tour in 2011, shot a 7-under-par 65 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to tally 15-under 201.
On his tail at 12 under were four players: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (64), England’s Tommy Fleetwood (62), and the French pair of Raphael Jacquelin (69) and Alexander Levy (68).
Heavy overnight rain caused an hour’s delay to the start of play, and officials adopted the preferred lie rule, meaning Fleetwood’s and Louis Oosthuizen’s 10-under 62s weren’t counted as tying the Old Course record.
Before he lost his card, Wilson, a 2008 Ryder Cup player, was runner-up nine times on tour, including here in 2009. This is his 229th tour event.
“There is a long 18 holes still to go, so it will be a long day, but to win would mean a lot to me,” said Wilson, ranked 792.
“I just love coming to play golf here on the three courses, and that walk up the 18th on the Old Course is pretty cool.”
He also wasn’t fazed when McIlroy surged on the front nine to tie him briefly.
McIlroy birdied five straight holes and made the turn on 30. But he hit into a bunker on the 16th, took two shots to get out and bogeyed the hole he eagled the day before. He finished with a 64, one off his best on the course.
“That was mission accomplished,” McIlroy said.
“The last four holes wasn’t really what I wanted but any time you shoot a score like that around St. Andrews, you have to be happy. Got myself into contention going into tomorrow, and Dad and I are going to get to play St. Andrews on his birthday tomorrow which will be a huge treat for both of us.”
Fellow Ryder Cup teammate Stephen Gallacher (69) at 9 under was five shots under the cut. But their other teammates Victor Dubuisson (75) at 1 under, and Martin Kaymer (71) at 1 over missed out.
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