Dale maintains his Open Championship push despite an over par third round (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Dale maintains his Open Championship push despite an over par third round

6:37pm Saturday 21st July 2012 in Sport By Simon Spurgeon

Dale Whitnell maintained his place towards the front end of the Open Championship leaderboard despite a two-over par third day at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

The 23-year-old golfer from Tiptree fired a round of 72 on Saturday to sit in a tie for 34th heading into the final day at his first major tournament.

Having started the third day on level par and playing alongside American Bob Estes, Whitnell had a shaky start as he recorded three bogeys in his opening six holes.

However, he soon regained his composure and, with birdies at the eighth and tenth, he brought his overall score back to one-over par.

A bogey at the 14th and a double bogey at the 17th didn't help the Five Lakes member's cause, but a birdie at the 16th and another at the 18th gave a boost ahead of the final day on Sunday.

Whitnell ended at two-over par for the tournament alongside former double Open Champion Padraig Harrington and Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari.