Golf: Smyth stays in front
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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