Robert-Jan Derksen and Gregory Bourdy will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Mallorca Classic at Pula Golf Club.
Dutchman suffers early morning blip
Robert-Jan Derksen's made a stuttering finish to his third round to only share the lead at the weather-disrupted Mallorca Classic.
The Dutchman had held a one-shot lead when bad light forced him off the course with three holes still to play.
However, when Derksen returned on Sunday he put his approach at the 16th into the water to finish with a birdie, while he could only par the last two holes.
That left Derksen on nine-under, alongside Frenchman Gregory Bourdy - and the Dutchman admitted the timing of the resumption of play had got to him.
Derksen told Reuters: "It was a little bit too early for me. I haven't been able
to pack or have breakfast.
"It's always difficult to find your rhythm in that kind of situation and I was too far back with my tee shot on the 16th.
Important
"But two solid pars to follow keep me in the final group and that was important.
"The tournament's still in my own hands and I feel I should be able to finish the job."
Derksen and Bourdy remain a shot ahead of another Frenchman, Jean-Francois Lucquin and Peter Lawrie.
Lucquin was another of the players who had to resume their third round on Sunday and he was denied a share of the lead after a bogey on the 18th.
Richard Finch and Sam Little - two players battling to keep hold of their Tour cards - are a shot further back, while pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia birdied the 18th on Sunday morning to move up to six-under and will start the final round just three shots back of the leaders.
Finch returned a fine 66 on Saturday to end the day on seven-under - and needs a top-20 finish to secure his playing privileges.
Chance
"In some ways the position I'm in is a good thing because at least I have a chance," Finch stated.
"I'm fairly pleased with the way I'm playing and I just have to keep doing what I'm doing for one more round.
"It's the old cliche of playing one shot at a time and not thinking about what I need to do, what might happen, what might not happen.
"Even if I don't make it I think I'll be a better player for the experience I had at the start of the year when I missed so many cuts (12 out of 13 at one stage)."
A number of other players were not as fortunate as Finch, though, with former tour winners David Carter, David Park and Sven Struver amongst the names now facing a trip to qualifying school next month after missing the halfway cut.
Former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart maintains a slim hope of keeping his card after surviving the cut right on the mark of three-over and then improving to one over on Saturday with two holes of his third round to play.
The Scot needs to finish 13th or better to avoid a first visit to qualifying school since 1993 and, despite lying 38th overnight, he stands just four shots out of a tie for 13th.
