Manage Delivery
Graeme Storm got some company atop the leaderboard at the KLM Open.
Storm led by himself after the first two rounds, but his 1-under 69 on Saturday was only enough to put him in a tie with Pablo Larrazabal, Scott Jamieson and 2005 winner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
The quartet finished at 12-under 198 and is one in front of European Ryder Cupper Peter Hanson, who had a 3-under 67 on Saturday at Hilversumsche Golf Club.
Last week's European Masters winner Richie Ramsay fired a 6-under 64 in round three and vaulted into a tie for sixth with Danny Willett, who had a 66 on Saturday, at 9-under par.
Storm appeared to be in control of the tournament, even with six straight pars to open his round. He missed the fairway at No. 7, but knocked his approach to 18 feet and rolled in the birdie putt.
Storm nearly holed his tee ball for an ace at No. 10, but settled for a tap-in birdie. Two holes later, the Englishman ran home a 5-foot birdie putt to reach 14-under par and go five clear.
Things fell apart quickly.
At the 13th, Storm missed the green and couldn't attack the flag with his chip. He made bogey, his first of the tournament, and made another at 14 when his 12-footer for par stayed above ground.
Storm still owned a share of the lead and it looked like he might inch ahead at the par-5 closing hole. His 6-foot birdie attempt never threatened the hole on the right side and that pushed putt cost him first on his own.
"A little disappointing, a bit of a sour taste in the mouth, finishing with just a par at the last," Storm said in a televised interview. "I had the tournament in the palm of my hands going into tomorrow, but the guys have made some birdies coming in where I haven't."
Sunday will be big for Storm. He hasn't won since the 2007 Open de France, but he's also in danger of losing his card unless he posts some good finishes.
"Tomorrow, that will be in the back of my mind," Storm said on TV. "If I find myself with a chance to win with six holes to go, then I'll go for it."
Larrazabal was the first in at 12-under thanks to a flawless round of 64, highlighted by some great play on the back nine.
After a lone birdie at No. 7 on the front side, Larrazabal made three birdies in a row from the 13th. He was 10-under par for the championship, but his closing stretch got him a piece of first.
At the 17th, Larrazabal converted a 3-foot birdie putt and at the last, after he missed his second left of the green, he chipped inside a foot. The tap-in left him at 12-under, where the other three joined him for first.
Jamieson played with Larrazabal on Saturday and was even through 11 holes. At the par-5 12th, Jamieson got up and down for birdie from a bunker. At the 15th, he knocked his tee shot to five feet to set up another birdie.
Much like his playing partner, Jamieson finished strong on Saturday. He drained a 5-footer for birdie at 17 and two-putted the last for a closing birdie and a 66 to tie for the lead.
Fernandez-Castano, also carded a 66, but had a much more volatile day than his co-leaders.
The Spaniard birdied two and five from inside 10 feet, then lipped out a 5- footer for bogey at the ninth. Fernandez-Castano was back down to 8-under par, but four birdies on the back nine, including a pair of 10-footers at 15 and 17 and a near hole-out from a bunker at the last, climbed him into a share of the lead.
Nicolas Colsaerts, one of European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal's picks, shot a 3-under 67 and is tied for eighth with former Ryder Cupper Henrik Stenson, who posted a 64 on Saturday. They finished at 8-under 202.
NOTES: Fernandez-Castano has five European Tour victories, the most of any of the co-leaders ... Larrazabal has two titles -- the 2008 Open de France and last year's BMW International ... Storm has the one win and Jamieson is winless on tour.
