Matthew Zions is on course for his first European Tour title after opening up a three-shot lead in the St Omer Open.
Australian on course for first European Tour title
Matthew Zions is on course for his first European Tour title after opening up a three-shot lead in the St Omer Open on Saturday.
The Australian overcame tricky conditions to card seven birdies and three bogeys - including four successive birdies from the ninth hole - to complete a four-under-par 67 as he moved on to a six-under total.
Strong winds and heavy rain in Lumbres, northern France, made the going difficult in general, with only nine players below par on the leaderboard at the end of the third round.
The 32-year-old Zions is now hoping he can continue his form on Sunday.
"It was fantastic," he said. "It's so windy out there that it's borderline not being able to play. But I hit it great and putted amazingly.
"I feel like I'm getting better each day, particularly with my putting, and the hole is looking big right now.
Excited
"This is a good spot to be in and I'm excited about tomorrow. It's my first time leading a European Tour event going into the last round and it's pretty cool, but the most important thing is to still be there tomorrow."
The chasing pack is led by three players, with Englishman Daniel Denison, South African George Coetzee and Federico Colombo of Italy all on three under for the tournament.
Denison also shot a 67, with five birdies earned as well as one dropped shot on the par-four 12th.
Colombo signed for a level-par 71 with two bogeys on the back nine blunting his challenge, while Coetzee was one over for the day after making a double bogey on the par-four 16th.
Ireland's Simon Thornton and Scotland's Craig Lee share fifth place on two under, with Thornton moving 27 places up the leaderboard following a 67.
Lee had held the overnight lead with Italian Andrea Perrino, but made four bogeys as he slumped to a three-over 74.
Perrino's round was even worse, with four bogeys and a double bogey leaving him a stroke further back on one under.