Versailles, Sept 14: Retief Goosen leads the Lancome Trophy by three strokes. Retief Goosen led for a third day in the Lancome Trophy but the South African had his advantage cut to three strokes on Saturday (September 13) after a closing bogey meant a three-under-par 68 for an overall 17-under 196. Ireland's Paul McGinley, the player who holed Europe's Ryder Cup winning putt last year, is now Goosen's nearest challenger after shooting a 66. Nicolas Colsaerts, Goosen's third round playing-partner, kept in touch with a 68 that left him four strokes off the lead. The 20-year-old Belgian is a shot better than England's double winner this year, Ian Poulter, who posted 65, the best round of the day. Goosen's finale repeated his feat of the first round when he dropped a shot at the last and the European number one for the last two years is aware of his frailty over the closing holes. In 2001, the year he won the U.S. Open, Goosen squandered a four-shot lead in the Lancome Trophy with four holes to go and let in Spain's Sergio Garcia for victory.

Goosen needs to win the $300,000 first prize if he is to keep alive his slim chance of catching Ernie Els on Europe's money list and win the order of merit for a third successive year.


McGinley seems inspired by the start of a new Ryder Cup campaign and the Irishman could capture a rich haul of points for the European table if he keeps up the form that earned him six birdies with only one dropped shot.


Colsaerts is looking for his maiden full tour title, while Poulter looks to add to his Wales Open and Nordic Open successes this year to keep his England World Cup hopes alive.


The Englishman, who suffered recurring tonsilitis when he won in Wales, has scheduled a tonsilectomy for November 11 but will postpone the operation if he can edge into England's team.


Leading third round scores in the 1,800,000 euros Lancome Trophy at the par-71 Saint-Mon-la-Breteche course on Saturday (Britain unless stated): 196 Retief Goosen (South Africa) 63 65 68 199 Paul McGinley (Ireland) 66 67 66 200 Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 66 66 68 201 Ian Poulter 67 69 65 203 Damien McGrane (Ireland) 68 68 67 204 Raphael Jacquelin (France) 69 67 68, David Lynn 69 69 66, Marten Olander (Sweden) 71 66 67, Hennie Otto (South Africa) 69 65 70 205 Carlos Rodiles (Spain) 66 66 73, Eduardo Romero (Argentina) 68 67 70 206 John Bickerton 71 67 68, David Howell 69 70 67, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70 68 68


Bureau Report