Woosnam happy in the valleys

Local favourite Ian Woosnam discovers his form of old

Ian Woosnam will take a one shot lead going into the final round of the inaugural Wales Open, after a vintage display of golf at Celtic Manor.

The former world number one was in sparkling form in front of his home fans at Wentwood Hills, racing to the turn in 30 on his way to a six-under-par 66.

I'll be nervous on Sunday but I think the others will be more worried about me than I will about them

Ian Woosnam

That gave him a total of 203 - 13 under par - and a one-stroke advantage over Denmark's Steen Tinning, who also carded a 66, with English pair Ian Garbutt and David Howell and Swede Henrik Nystrom on 10 under.

Woosnam is chasing a hat-trick of victories on home soil spanning three decades - a 29th in Europe - and his first since the PGA Championship in 1997.

"I'll be nervous on Sunday but I think the others will be more worried about me than I will about them," he said.

"I have to be very patient and not get upset about one bad shot because I've hit too many good ones and I think I'm due to hole a few putts.

Steve Tinning is hot on Ian Woosnam's heels

"You tend to get a bit nervous not being up there for a while but the last few weeks have helped me with that, being in with half a chance and getting in contention."

Woosnam started in style with birdies from close range on the first, second, fourth, fifth and eighth followed by one from 45 feet on the ninth.

The 1991 Masters champion was not able to produce a repeat performance on the back nine however with nine straight pars to allow Tinning to close the gap to just one with his 66.

"I'm sure I'll be shaking a little at the beginning on Sunday, but I've been working very hard on the mental side of the game and I feel I'm capable of taking my game to another level," Tinning said.

Collated scores and totals
Gbr & Irl unless stated, Par 72

203 I Woosnam 68 69 66
204 S Tinning (Den) 70 68 66
206 H Nystrom (Swe) 71 71 64, I Garbutt 68 71 67, D Howell 72 67 67
208 C Suneson (Spa) 70 71 67, N O'Hern (Aus) 71 68 69, M James 67 72 69
209 B Lane 69 73 67, F Jacobson (Swe) 71 68 70, M McNulty (Zim) 70 67 72, F Jacobson (Swe) 71 68 70
210 R Coles 64 79 67, RJ Derksen (Ned) 72 70 68, G Brand Jnr 72 70 68
211 S Leaney (Aus) 72 74 65, A Coltart 72 74 65, A Hansen (Den) 68 73 70, J Spence 71 70 70
212 A Oldcorn 70 74 68, P McGinley 77 67 68, B Rumford (Aus) 70 71 71
213 D Robertson 71 75 67, F Lindgren (Swe) 74 72 67, D Lynn 71 73 69, M Lafeber (Ned) 73 69 71, T Levet (Fra) 69 73 71, D Park 69 71 73
214 P Baker 70 76 68, D Hospital (Spa) 73 72 69, R Green (Aus) 74 71 69, A Forsyth 73 72 69, J Moseley (Aus) 72 72 70, S Dyson 72 72 70, I Giner (Spa) 67 77 70, M Cain (Aus) 73 71 70, R Drummond 70 74 70, J Senden (Aus) 69 75 70, P Eales 72 71 71, J Robinson 70 73 71
215 P Fulke (Swe) 71 75 69, R Wessels (Rsa) 70 76 69, P Affleck 74 70 71, S Torrance 73 71 71, D Carter 76 68 71, S Kjeldsen (Den) 72 71 72, S Allan (Aus) 74 69 72, R Chapman 69 73 73, R Winchester 70 71 74
216 G Orr 71 74 71, D Lee 74 70 72, R Dinsdale 73 70 73, J Haeggman (Swe) 71 71 74, S Richardson 73 69 74, I Pyman 67 75 74, P Nyman (Swe) 72 69 75, R McFarlane 70 68 78
217 G Evans 72 74 71, M Farry (Fra) 73 72 72, W Yeh (Tai) 72 72 73, A Beal 74 69 74, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 70 71 76
218 M Plummer 72 74 72, M Mouland 74 71 73, T Gogele (Ger) 73 71 74, V Phillips 74 69 75, A Wall 70 72 76, M Anglert (Swe) 72 68 78
219 M Litton 70 76 73, L Parsons (Aus) 72 74 73, S Wakefield 70 75 74, R Russell 70 69 80
220 P Golding 70 76 74, S Hansen (Den) 72 73 75
221 E Boult (Nzl) 71 75 75
222 P O'Malley (Aus) 75 71 76, P Walton 72 70 80
223 M Jonzon (Swe) 74 70 79.