Matthew Zions of Australia shot a four-under-par 67 to build a three-stroke lead after the third round of the Saint-Omer Open on Saturday.
Looking for his first victory on the European Tour, the 32-year-old Zions had consecutive birdies on the last two holes for a total of six-under 207.
“It was fantastic,” Zions said. “It’s so windy out there that it’s borderline not being able to play, but I hit it great and putted amazingly. Everyone’s going to make bogeys, you have to accept that.”
George Coetzee of South Africa, who led after the first round, shared second place with Italy’s Federico Colombo and England’s Daniel Denison.
Overnight co-leaders Craig Lee of Scotland and Italy’s Andrea Perrino shot 74 and 75 respectively to stand at two-under and one-under.
Zions, who is leading a European Tour event going into the last round for the first time, made up for his three bogeys with seven birdies.
Coetzee could have finished the day even closer to Zions, but had a double bogey on the 16th hole.
“I played the hole perfectly, but had the most impossible putt in the world on the 16th,” he said. “It was only two feet, but it was downhill and with a crosswind and I just tried to lag it in, but it missed and just kept trickling miles past, and I missed the return.”
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