Barham shares lead in Italy
England’s Benn Barham claimed a share of the lead going into the final round of the Italian Open – and credited a sports psychologist recently banned from the tour.
Barham carded a third-round 67 at Castello di Tolcinasco for a 16-under-par total of 200, a score and total matched by Italy’s Francesco Molinari.
Warrington’s Phillip Archer is a shot behind in third after a 68 – with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts (64), France’s Benoit Teilleria (65) and first-round leader Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark (69) another stroke adrift.
Barham played on the main tour in 2003 but lost his card after finishing 150th on the Order of Merit.
He regained it via the Challenge Tour last season and gives part of the credit for his revival to sports psychologist John Pates.
Pates was banned from the European Tour for three months at the end of last season for striking a caddy in the foyer of the players’ hotel before the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai in November.
But Barham added: “I speak as I find, and he is a nice guy. Whatever he does off the course is up to him.
“I worked with him before at the end of 2003 and enjoyed it, and started working with him again a few months ago. He’s given me a lot to work on, mainly remembering all the good shots I hit rather thanreflecting on the bad ones.”
Chelsea fan Barham will be up against local favourite and Inter Milan supporter Molinari in the final group on Sunday, and joked: “Although we’re away from home, I still fancy Chelsea!
“I led from start to finish when I won on the Challenge Tour last year and I think I play my best when I’m in contention. I’ve been working hard for a few weeks, and it seems to be coming together extremely well.”
Molinari, whose brother Edoardo won the US Amateur title last year, is attempting to become the first home winner of the Italian Open since 1980 - two years before he was born.
The 23-year-old, who finished 86th on the money list in his rookie season last year, said: “It would mean a lot for Italy and my family if I could win tomorrow.
“My brother did not play well this week (he missed the cut by 16 shots) but I am sure he will soon join me on tour and I am sure we will enjoy ourselves.
“I’m happy to be here and have the support of the crowd and hopefully I can give them a victory.”
Archer got off to a flying start to his third round with an eagle from 12ft on the first, but then had to recover from a dreaded shank on the par-three 14th which cost him a double bogey.
“They say it’s nice to have new experiences but I’m not so sure about that one,” said the 34-year-old, who finished third in the Spanish Open on Sunday, the best finish of his career.
“It went straight right into the water and was so bad I was hoping it might clear the water on the other side. We were laughing about it actually and I came back with two birdies in the next three holes to make up for it.
“I’m nicely in the slip stream so hopefully I can fly past tomorrow. I know I’m swinging well enough and putting well so there is no reason why not.”
Overnight leader David Drysdale was considering throwing away the four-leaf clover he found during the third round after two double bogeys in his last five holes.
Drysdale, who had a two-shot lead at halfway, followed Archer into the water on the 14th and found water again on the 18th to card a 73.
That left the 31-year-old from Dunbar, who lost his card last season by less than £400, four shots off the lead on 12 under.
