Japans' Noboru Sugai is just 18 holes away from a memorable wire-to-wire win in the Senior British Open at Royal County Down today.

Four ahead starting they day, this unassuming Japanese Senior Tour regular carded a wonderful two over par 73 yesterday to take a six shot lead over Canada's John Irwin into the final round.

His lead is the largest 54-hole margin in the history of the tour after a day of high winds that played havoc with the field.

Tom Watson amongst the big names blown off course as he carded a five over par 76 to trail by eight shots.

"Today I said, 'Just stay on the board'," Sugai explained afterwards. "Standing on the firs tee I thought three over would be a good score.

"It is a big shock to be six shots ahead and I will be looking over my shoulder again tomorrow. I hit the ball low so I hope the wind is strong. I like the high ball but it changes my swing too much. This suits me.

"I have only played in wind like this two or three of times. The money? Thank you very much. But I want to win the title."

Six ahead at one stage, Sugai double bogeyed the eighth and ninth to see his lead reduced to three. But he didn't panic, despite the shock to the system

"After seven holes I was two under and thought great. Very, very good. Wow. But then number eight and nine double bogey. The swing was not smooth. A little quick."

He made steady pars the 10th and 11th and then got up and down for a birdie from the back of the par five 12th to re-assert his dominance.

Watson reached the turn in four over par, and although he picked up three birdies on the way home he made a double and two bogeys too to leave himself a lot to do today.

"The course got the better of me today," said Watson. "I didn't put up much of a challenge to the golf course. What happens now depends on Mr Sugai. It's his tournament to win or lose."

"I was nervous on eight and nine and my timing was bad," said Sugai. "But I played one hole at a time and now I am very happy with 73."

Out in two over, the Japanese player was still three clear of playing partner John Chillas and eight ahead of the chasing pack before he steadied the ship on the back nine.

He came home in level par 36 despite a bogey-bogey finish as Chillas finished with two doubles to drop into a share of fourth with Watson on two over.

Christy O'Connor Jnr started promisingly but then double bogeyed the ninth to retreat into the pack on his way to a 73.

He said: "I knew if I hung in there that I would be right up there but I had a disastrous six on the ninth. The third time this week I have done it. "

Three-time runner up John Bland moved up the field with a two over par 73 that leaves him in third place on his own on one over par.

He said " It was extremely tough out there. The last four were very tough holes but Sugai looks as if he has it all. We all hope it will blow tomorrow like today and then if you play well you have a chance. But nine shots is a lot to make up."

An indication of just how hard the wind is blowing came at the 479 yard par five 12th where American Bill Brask hit a 360 yard drive and then holed out with a wedge from 106 yards for an albatross two on his way to a round of 75.

Added Sugai: "To win? A big shock. Tomorrow is 18 holes and I will take it one hole at a time. If I win, I don't know."

Senior British Open at Royal County Down
(British or Irish unless stated)
Third round (par 71)

207 - N Sugai (Jpn) 67 67 73;

213 - J Irwin (Can) 71 68 74;

214 - J Bland (SA) 71 70 73;

215 - T Watson (USA) 70 69 76; J Chillas 69 69 77;

216 - C O'Connor Jnr 73 70 73;

217 - K Takahashi (Jpn) 71 69 77;

218 - D Oakley (USA) 76 68 74; N Job 76 67 75;

219 - J Morgan 72 70 77; R Weir 68 72 79;

220 - J McTear 71 78 71; D Huish 76 70 74; M Miller 74 72 74; P Diniz (Bra) 74 72 74; R Metherell (Aus) 75 69 76; S Ebihara (Jpn) 72 71 77; M Gregson 72 71 77;

221 - M Bembridge 72 73 76; B Vivian (NZ) 71 72 78;

222 - D Halldorson (Can) 71 75 76; B Jones (Aus) 72 73 77; B Charles (NZ) 73 72 77; N Coles 74 70 78;

223 - B Brask (USA) 76 72 75; J Bruner (USA) 73 72 78; K Macdonald 74 70 79;

224 - D O'Sullivan 77 72 75; A Croce (It) 76 70 78;

225 - B Shearer (Aus) 76 73 76; B Feil (USA) 73 73 79; J Fourie (SA) 72 74 79; I Stanley (Aus) 75 71 79; B Verwey (SA) 72 71 82;

226 - M Foster 71 77 78; R Carrasco (USA) 71 76 79; D Durnian 73 72 81; M Ferguson (Aus) 72 71 83;

227 - D Creamer 76 74 77; G Parslow (Aus) 72 78 77; W Milne 76 74 77; M Edmunds 76 73 78; A Pierse (am) 80 69 78; T Horton 74 74 79; W McDonald (Can) 75 73 79; P Ward 76 71 80;

228 - M Steadman 77 73 78; I Mosey 74 75 79; B Smith (Aus) 77 70 81; J Grace (USA) 72 72 84;

229 - I Richardson 77 73 79; N Ratcliffe (Aus) 77 71 81

230 - G MacDonald (Can) 76 75 79; P Kerr 69 77 84; J Traub (USA) 73 73 84;

231 - S Locatelli (It) 75 74 82; T Allen 70 73 88;

232 - J Mashego (SA) 79 71 82; V Garcia (Sp) 75 74 83;

233 - J McDermott 75 76 82;

234 - S Stull (USA) 81 70 83; G Parkhill 80 71 83;

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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