Bradley Dredge will take a one-shot lead into the Irish Open final round on Sunday hoping to erase the heartbreak of 2007 when he was beaten in a play-off by Padraig Harrington.

Welshman Dredge carded a third round six under 66 to stand at nine under for the tournament with England's Richard Finch one shot behind and Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood another shot back after carding a blistering 64.

Westwood carded four birdies and an eagle in his last five holes.

"Obviously, I'd love to win and not get in any play-off," said Dredge.

"It's always a tough one to swallow when you do that, but I was really pleased today because I was not in a good mood coming off the course on Friday. To drop from seven under to three under was not a very good performance."

Westwood has his sights set on a 30th professional victory after birdies at the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th were followed by a closing eagle three.

Six under for the last five holes gave the former European number one a 64, only one outside Harrington's course record.

Westwood, who had been in 39th place at the start of the day, was only playing in Ireland because he fell ill three weeks ago and pulled out of the Wachovia Championship in America.

"I just went out to enjoy it today — and that was very enjoyable," he said. "It was great.

"A 64 round here, you have got to class as a pretty good score. I pulled the four-iron at the last, but it was a good putt."

Overnight leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera, playing just his 16th Tour event, could manage only a 75, as did his playing partner Marcel Siem, and it was Swede Robert Karlsson, Chile's Felipe Aguilar and 48-year-old South African David Frost who were in joint fourth.

Frost, trying to become the oldest ever winner on the tour, fired a 66.

AFP