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Harrington holds strong Irishman takes two-shot lead at Rio Years 500 Open
Posted: Saturday March 25, 2000 07:21 PM
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Ireland's Padraig Harrington shot a 1-under-par 71 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Scotland's Alastair Forsyth after three rounds of the $652,806 Rio 500 Years Open. Forsyth, who held a two-shot lead after Friday's second round, shot 75 slipped to second on the leaderboard, a shot ahead of a trio of players. Despite shooting a 62 like Forsyth on Friday, Harrington was not able to build much on the momentum and finished three rounds with a 16-under 200. "Being two ahead is not the issue," Harrington said. "Now there are about 10 players who can come out firing with a chance to win." Harrington, winner of the Spanish Open in 1996, bogeyed the sixth and seventh holes and fell two strokes behind Forsyth at the turn. But the Scottish rookie returned the favor on the 15th, where his second shot rolled behind a tree and he came away with a double bogey seven. "It was a struggle but I'm not out of it by any means," Forsyth said. "That's the positive thing. Padraig hasn't run away with it." Harrington eagled 11 but missed a chance to widen his lead when his tee shot on the 17th struck the pin 6 inches above the base and bounced off the green. Instead of a birdie, he took a bogey 4. Sweden's Robert Karlsson shot a 5-under-par 67 to move to within three at 13-under 203, tied with Paolo Quirici of Switzerland (69) and Jorge Berendt (69) of Argentina.
The Rio 500 Years Open marks the first time the PGA European Tour has traveled to South America. The tournament moves to Sao Paulo next week.
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