I'll Top The Table Then Put Gary's Food On It

Sep 21 2008

STEVEN O'HARA says he has no intention of changing his dinner plans with pal Gary Lockerbie tonight - despite the Englishman overtaking him at the top of the Kazakhstan Open leaderboard.

O'Hara had led for two days but the Scot's dismal putting and Lockerbie's 66 has put the Penrith star in pole position going into the final round in Almaty.

A tricky three-foot putt at the last gave O'Hara 70 for the day and a 12-under tally after Lockerbie had earlier moved to 13-under on the Nurtac course.

But the 28-year-old Motherwell ace has revealed close friend Lockerbie could be the key to securing his first professional-win since joining the play-for-pay ranks in 2001.

O'Hara said: "Gary and I have been having a good laugh every night we've been out eating together and we're definitely doing the same tonight.

"I know Gary well and it relaxes me having a meal with him but whoever wins the tournament will be picking up the cheque on Sunday night."

Victory for the flame-haired Scot would also seal his return to the European Tour next year.

But to achieve that O'Hara knows he'll have to get back to the form he showed earlier in the tournament.

He said: "I played well but had three three-putts where I bogeyed on each occasion and really didn't putt well all day.

"In some way day three has taken a little of the pressure off me because I had been leading for two days and now I'm one behind Gary and still very much in with the chance of winning.

"But it would be great to be holding the trophy. Somebody has to win it so why can't it be me?"

Like O'Hara, Lockerbie is a former Walker Cup star and has also yet to taste success since turning pro three years ago.

Other Scots: David Dyrsdale (70) 209, Matthew McArthur (71) 211, Ritchie Ramsay (76) 215.