Frenchman Mickael Dieu and Octavio Gonzalez of Mexico will take the lead into the final round of the 48 Abierto Mexicano Corona, the opening event of the 2006 European Challenge Tour season. Both players ended their third rounds on eight under par 205 after Dieu posted a third round 67, while Gonzalez carded the low round of the week so far – a seven under par 63. However, lurking dangerously in a share of third place two shots behind is the defending champion Rafael Gomez.
The Argentina shares third place with Oskar Bergman of Sweden after posting a third day 67, while Bergman – the second round leader – produced a level par 71 to stay in the hunt for a maiden Challenge Tour success.
Victory for either of the third round leaders would also be a Challenge Tour first, and if Gonzalez can produce a similar final round performance to that of his third round, he will become a national hero in his home country.
The man from a town named Puebla had birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and ninth holes to get to the turn in 32 strokes before finishing in blistering fashion with five birdies in his closing six holes to surge into the joint lead.
Winner of the Tour de las Americas’ Players Championship Acafest 2003, the Mexican knows how to score low. Last September he shot a stunning 12-under par 60 of ten birdies and one eagle to set Mexican Tour history at an event in Chihuahua.
“I didn’t dream of a round like this. I only wanted to do my best and play focused,” said Gonzalez, who started the third round in a tie for 25th position. “Sometimes golf rewards you and you have to take advantage of that. Fortunately, today, I had one of those days and I made the most out of it. I hope I can go out and play well tomorrow,” added the 36-year old.
Dieu earned his place at the 48 Abierto Mexicano Corona after playing both Tour de las Americas Qualifying Schools in Buenos Aires and Florida, but he didn’t expect to be in this position.
The Frenchman got his third round off to the best possible start by holing a six foot birdie effort at the first hole and instantly followed that up with a 15 foot effort ont the second and a 30 foot attempt at the third.
“After that I decided not to play so aggressively. My only mistake was at the tenth green, where I made three putts from 15 feet,” said Dieu who has made only one bogey over the last 43 holes of the US$ 305,000 tournament.
“On Thursday I was three over after nine holes and I was playing under a lot of pressure. At that point I told myself ‘calm down or you are dead’ and then I started to play much better off the tenth. I only wanted to make it through the weekend in order to earn a few points,” admitted the 32-year old former French Amateur Champion.
Gonzalez and Dieu will play the final round along with defending champion Gomez, who commented: “Just as last year, I’m two-strokes behind with only eighteen holes to go. I’m confident and I want to win.”
