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Derksen stands firm amid windy conditions
Jeju, Korea, 25 April 2009 - Robert-Jan Derksen will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea as he goes in search of his first victory in four years.
The Dutchman stood firm as howling winds buffeted Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju on Saturday, making for extremely difficult scoring conditions.
On a day when just one player broke par, Derksen carded a commendable three-over 75 in the third round that left him on six-under 210 for the tournament.
Pablo Martin of Spain was his nearest challenger, carding a 74 for a total of four-under 212.
Korean duo Kang Kyung Nam (75) and Kang Wook Soon (77) plus Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (77) were two shots further back on two-under 214.
Derksen revealed that the conditions were among the toughest he had experienced. “It wasn’t the coldest, but I think it’s definitely the windiest we’ve played in,” he said.
“The only thing you can do is just do your best. I did that on every shot I played today, and I’m still two in front. So I guess that’s the best part of the day.
“I thought every par was actually great; to make a par on any hole was fantastic.”
Derksen, whose hobby is abstract painting, produced some masterstrokes with his clubs on Saturday.
The highlight of his round came when he eagled the par-five 10th thanks to a brilliant second shot that stopped within inches of the pin.
With the chasing pack dropping shots, Derksen had opened up a five-shot lead after 14 holes but he bogeyed the last four holes to give his rivals hope.
“I’m still two in front, and of course I was a few more in front before that, but it was a very tough day. A lead can go quickly and that showed on the last few holes,” he said.
Derksen, 35, will tee off on Sunday aiming to add the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship to his victories in the 2003 Dubai Desert Classic and the 2005 Madeira Island Open.
But he will face stiff competition from Martin, whose only European Tour win came as an amateur at the Open de Portugal in 2007.
“It was really difficult out there,” said the Spaniard. “It was really windy, but I tried to make it fun and I had a good round, so I’m happy.
“We don’t play this kind of golf that often, so it was different. You can hit the ball really well and still shoot an 85, so you need a little bit of luck.
“You just try to have a good, positive attitude, otherwise it’s going to be way too long a day.”
Three-time Major winner Ernie Els stayed in the hunt with a one-over 73 that left him five shots behind Derksen.
The South African was one of five players on one-under 215, the others being Korean Choi Gwang Soo (74), Finland’s Mikko Ilonen (74), Spain’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (76) and Frenchman François Delamontagne (71), who was the only player to break par.
The Ballantine’s Championship is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.
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Released on behalf of the Ballantine’s Championship by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.