Former delivery driver Joe Dean eyes second DPWT win of the season in Spain
The Englishman shares the lead after 54 holes in Madrid.
England's Joe Dean is eyeing a second DP World Tour title of the season after moving into a share of the lead heading into the final round of the Spanish Open.
The 32-year-old former delivery driver secured his maiden victory on the European-based circuit at the British Masters in August and is now within touching distance of another title.
Dean carded a 6-under-par 65 in the third round at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid to reach 13-under par, alongside Scotland’s Grant Forrest, with 18 holes remaining.
He looked set for an even lower score after playing his first 15 holes in 8-under, only to falter late on with a double bogey at the 16th and a dropped shot at the 17th.
Position | Player | Score |
1 | Grant Forrest | -13 |
1 | Joseph Dean | -13 |
3 | Joel Girrbach | -12 |
3 | Jacob Skov Olesen | -12 |
3 | Victor Perez | -12 |
6 | Angel Ayora | -10 |
7 | Martin Couvra | -9 |
8 | Joakim Lagergren | -8 |
8 | Daniel Hillier | -8 |
8 | Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra | -8 |
11 | Oliver Lindell | -7 |
11 | Hennie Du Plessis | -7 |
13 | Tom Vaillant | -6 |
13 | Sean Crocker | -6 |
13 | Adrian Otaegui | -6 |
13 | Nathan Kimsey | -6 |
17 | Sami Valimaki | -5 |
17 | Joost Luiten | -5 |
17 | Antoine Rozner | -5 |
17 | Ludvig Aaberg | -5 |
17 | J. C. Ritchie | -5 |
17 | Niklas Noergaard | -5 |
17 | Shane Lowry | -5 |
24 | Niklas Lemke | -4 |
24 | Sergio Garcia | -4 |
24 | Jose Luis Ballester | -4 |
24 | Connor Syme | -4 |
24 | Daniel Brown | -4 |
24 | Marco Penge | -4 |
24 | Jeff Winther | -4 |
31 | Luke List | -3 |
31 | Sam Bairstow | -3 |
31 | Romain Langasque | -3 |
31 | Francesco Laporta | -3 |
31 | Matthew Jordan | -3 |
31 | Quim Vidal | -3 |
31 | Ashun Wu | -3 |
31 | Stefano Mazzoli | -3 |
39 | Renato Paratore | -2 |
39 | Manuel Elvira | -2 |
39 | Pablo Larrazabal | -2 |
39 | Angel Hidalgo | -2 |
39 | Alejandro Del Rey | -2 |
39 | Bernd Wiesberger | -2 |
39 | Thriston Lawrence | -2 |
39 | Mikael Lindberg | -2 |
39 | Francesco Molinari | -2 |
48 | Brandon Stone | -1 |
48 | Jens Dantorp | -1 |
48 | Wenyi Ding | -1 |
48 | Matteo Manassero | -1 |
48 | Alfredo Garcia-Heredia | -1 |
48 | M. J. Daffue | -1 |
54 | Eddie Pepperell | E |
54 | Jason Scrivener | E |
54 | David Puig | E |
54 | Frederic Lacroix | E |
54 | Nicolai von Dellingshausen | E |
54 | Oihan Guillamoundeguy | E |
60 | Michael Stewart | +1 |
60 | Marcus Helligkilde | +1 |
60 | Kiradech Aphibarnrat | +1 |
60 | Jeong-Weon Ko | +1 |
60 | Rikuya Hoshino | +1 |
60 | Darius van Driel | +1 |
60 | David Law | +1 |
67 | Brandon Robinson-Thompson | +1 |
67 | Jorge Campillo | +2 |
67 | Ignacio Elvira | +2 |
67 | Alexander Noren | +2 |
71 | Jeremy Paul | +3 |
71 | Daniel Rodrigues | +3 |
73 | Filippo Celli | +4 |
However, Dean recovered his composure to birdie the last, producing a superb recovery shot from the trees to limit the damage and maintain his share of the lead heading into the final round.
"Nothing's guaranteed in this game," Dean told Sky Sports after his round when asked about his rollercoaster finish.
"It only takes you a slight lapse of concentration or just a bad shot at a bad time before you know you're chasing again."
He added: "It's a very high-pressure situation, and yeah, you just, you hit the shot that you've got at that time, and if it's the right one, it's the right one.
"If it isn't, then back to the drawing board, but yeah, it's nice to finish with a birdie on the last, and sort of hopefully stay in the last group for tomorrow, and yeah, just go again, see what happens."
Dean overturned a seven-shot deficit at The Belfry to claim his first DP World Tour title in August.
Asked if it's going to feel different playing in the final group, Dean added: "It's something different.
"Hopefully, I've been in these positions a couple of times now, and hopefully it's a bit of experience, and yeah, whatever happens tomorrow, it's been a good week."
Dean and Forrest will also have to withstand challenges from several golfers on Sunday.
A group of three players are only one shot adrift of the lead.
Home hope Angel Ayora birdied three of his final four holes to post a 66 and is three back.
Former LIV Golf recruit Eugenio Chacarra, who is playing with a broken foot, could only manage a 1-under 70 on moving day.
Several high-profile players, including major champions Bubba Watson and Justin Rose were among those to miss the halfway cut.
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