Echenique holds off challengers

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated)
-11 R Echenique (Arg) -10 M Kaymer (Ger) -9 P Waring -8 S Benson, R Green (Aus), P Hanson (Swe)
Selected others:-7 L Westwood -6 I Poulter -5 C Montgomerie

Argentine Rafa Echenique ended the third round of the French Open with a slender lead over German Martin Kaymer.

Echenique shot 70 to finish on 11 under, while Kaymer carded 69.

Paul Waring produced a 68 to move two shots behind the lead, while fellow Englishman Seve Benson carded the same score to move three behind Echenique.

Lee Westwood ended seven under with Ian Poulter a shot behind him, while Scotland's Colin Montgomerie shot a day's-best 65 to move up to five under.

Montgomerie thought he had missed the cut after a triple- bogey seven at the end of his second round.

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" The usual suspects will be favourites with the bookies but on pure golfing terms anyone could win the Open "

But he bounced back to shoot a 65 which included a 97-yard pitch into the sixth hole for an eagle two and four birdies.

"That's what I used to do," said Montgomerie, who is 211th in the world rankings and 94th on the European money list.

"I've been making far too many mistakes - there were a load of crazy ones on Friday - and it starts with hitting fairways.

"If I do that I can play to my strength, my iron play. This was a very important round for me going forward and I've just got to keep at it hoping it will come back one day.

"That seven killed things off here. I've now got to move up as high as I can - I don't need the money, but I need the points."

Waring and Benson are not only challenging for their first European title but also for the one Open spot on offer, which goes to the highest player who has not already qualified for the major at Turnberry.

Benson hit four birdies in the final five holes to move into the sharp end of the battle for the lead.

But Echenique will be hoping to hold off his challengers on Sunday and he mixed two birdies with two bogeys on the front nine.

He started the inward half with eight successive pars and then produced a glorious iron to seven feet on the 470-yard 18th to finish with a birdie.

"That last birdie was very good because the putter just didn't work for me," said the Argentine.

"When you are playing in the last group in these conditions then you are always going to be a little nervous, but after the first three holes I realised that I should calm down and try to play my game.

"This is one of the biggest and best events on the European Tour and I believe that I can do it. I did it in the Argentine Open, so why not here?"

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