South African Casey Jarvis has taken a five shot lead into the final round of the Euram Open in Austria this weekend.
Jarvis led after Round Two, but he has really consolidated his lead now with a super 65 that puts him at 17 under and five shots ahead of the nearest challenger, Stuart Manly from Wales, who shot a course record 61.
It doesn’t look like there’s going to be any Irish winner this week as the best of our bunch this week is Conor Purcell, back on five under after a third round 68.
19-year-old Jarvis, who held a one shot lead overnight, birdied three of his first five holes to stretch his advantage before adding birdies on the 11th, 13th and 15th on the way home with his only dropped shot of the day coming on the 16th.
Jarvis, who has finished in second place on three separate occasions this year, is hoping to break his duck this weekend.
He said: “I’ve been in contention a few times this year, so I feel like I’m learning each time I’m in contention.
“I’m not going to go out there and force it. I feel like a couple of times when I’ve been in this position I’ve tried to do that, but I just need to stick to my game.
“I’m being a little less aggressive this week and it seems to be paying off. I’m feeling comfortable in front and I like the golf course. The views are unbelievable and I feel like the course suits my game.
“I always have a look at the leaderboard, so whenever there was one, I did check it out. I didn’t focus on it too much, but just kept playing the game that I planned to play.”
Jarvis’ form this season has seen him climb to fifth in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, and after he found his range with the putter early on moving day, he was pleased with how the rest of his game followed suit.
He added: “I kept the ball in play off the tee and I hit my irons nicely.
“I played really well. Today I actually made a few more putts than I did yesterday so overall, really happy.
“I got a good feel for the greens early and got the pace from the fifth hole where I hit a good long putt, so I had confidence in the putter from then. I feel like I had good approach shots throughout, so I found it easier to manage my way around the course with that.”
Scotland’s Euan Walker and American Julian Suri share third place on 11 under par, with Jeppe Kristian Andersen from Denmark in fifth on ten under par.
The rest of the Irish are further down the field, with Conor O’Rourke on one under and Jonathan Yates on one over.
Paul Murphy and Cormac Sharvin missed the cut this week.
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