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Golf: Smyth stays in front

Derrick Whyte,Portugal
Saturday 06 March 1999 00:02 GMT
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VETERAN Irishman Des Smyth retained his lead in the Algarve Portuguese Open yesterday when young Swede Fredrik Jacobson slipped up at the close.

Jacobson, 24, had gone a stroke clear of the 46-year-old Irishman but then bogeyed three of the last four holes on the tough Penina course and needed a closing birdie to share second place with American Bob May.

Smyth's indifferent level-par 72 for six-under-par 138 kept him on course for his first victory since 1993.

Jacobson shot 71 and May, who played in slightly easier morning conditions, 69, to keep out a pack of six a further stroke back.

They were Spaniards Santiago Luna and Pedro Linhart, Britons Paul Lawrie - looking for a second successive victory after winning the Qatar Masters two weeks ago - Van Phillips and Anthony Wall, and Italian Massimo Scarpa.

Smyth, who made his first cut of the year, was happy with his one-shot lead despite a round which was not up to his opening 66.

At the other end of the scoreboard 18-year-old Englishman Justin Rose missed his 15th successive cut since turning pro, by just one stroke, as he bogeyed the last two holes for a 77 and 148.

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