Dermot McElroy shot a solid yet unimpressive two-under-par 68 to stay in the top 30 on moving day at the Challenge de Espana on the Challenge Tour.
Benjamin Hébert will take a one-shot lead into the final day of the tournament after posting a five-under-par third round of 65 at Club de Golf Playa Serena.
The six-time European Challenge Tour winner started the day one shot off the pace but after carding six birdies and one bogey he climbed to the top of the leaderboard on 11-under par, one clear of Italian Andrea Pavan and Swede Kristoffer Broberg who share second.
The 36-year-old believes his conservative approach off the tee has been paramount to his success this week and is now looking forward to relaxing in the Spanish sunshine this afternoon.
“I’m very happy with my round today,” he said. “I’ve been playing solid since the start of the week and I’m leading the tournament at the moment which is great.
“I’m trying to hit fairways out there and not be too aggressive from the tee. My plan is going well, and I have made a lot of putts inside ten feet.
The Frenchman’s last Challenge Tour victory came in 2014 yet, despite waiting nine years for another victory, Hébert has never stopped believing that his time will come once again.
“I’m going to stick to my plan tomorrow,” he said. “There are 18 holes to go, and I will need to be sharp around the greens to get the victory.
“It will mean a lot to me to get back in the winner’s circle and I know I can win again out here.”
Three-time DP World Tour winner Brandon Stone sits in fourth place on nine under par, while Spanish duo Borja Virto and Lucas Vacarisas, Englishman Jack Senior, six-time Challenge Tour winner Ricardo Gouveia and Swede Joakim Wikström are a shot further back in fifth on eight-under-par.
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