Cormac Sharvin tees off this morning just two shots off the lead as he aims to secure a maiden Challenge Tour win at the Prague Golf Challenge.
The 26-year old fired a moving day five-under par round of 67 to propel himself right into contention in a tie for 4th at minus-11 with Antoine Rozner the main danger in front – the Frenchman aiming to become the first back-to-back winner on the European Challenge Tour since 2012 when he tees it up with a one-shot lead in the final round.
Sharvin returned six birdies in an impressive moving day haul and the former Walker Cup star will be hoping for more of the same today to post a number in the clubhouse to trouble those ahead coming down the stretch.
But it’s the Frenchman Rozner, who posted a four-under par 68 on a weather-affected third day at Prague City Golf, who sets the target at 13-under par as thunder and lightning descended on the Czech capital yesterday.
He leads by one from playing partners Mathieu Fenasse – the 36-hole leader – and Jonas Kölbing while countryman Grégory Havret and Sharvin are a shot further back on 11 under par.
Rozner claimed his first Challenge Tour title as he raced through the field on the final day of last week’s Challenge de España and should he win again this week, he will be the first man to triumph in successive weeks since Kristoffer Broberg’s pair of victories at the Finnish Challenge and Norwegian Challenge in August 2012.
However, in stark contrast to last week’s final day leaderboard ascent, he will tonight sleep on the lead with 18 holes remaining, a prospect he recognises as being entirely different.
“It’s totally different to last week,” he said. “Being the leader on Saturday night is a whole different story.
“I’ll call my coach, my sports psychologist as well, and we’ll talk about it and I think I’ll be ready for it. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last few weeks and I should be fine.”
The 26-year-old had a two-shot cushion prior to the weather delay but then bogeyed the 18th hole after the hour’s break, which he believes was a momentum killer.
“The delay wasn’t easy,” he said. “I was lucky enough to play that second shot on 17 before the delay so I just had to putt on that hole and I hit a great putt but it just lipped out.
“The 18th is a tough hole and I played it a bit too safe. I was too far left from where I wanted to be and the greens were slower after the rain. I left it short and missed the second shot but that happens.
“I’m just a bit disappointed with that finish after the rain delay because I three-putted at the last but tomorrow’s a new day. I still have a one-shot lead so I’ll just do everything I can to keep that lead and we’ll see who wins.”
Rhys Enoch, who posted a five under par 67 on Day Three, and Wil Besseling share sixth place on ten under par, while French duo Sébastien Gros and Robin Roussel, along with Richard Bland and Mark Flindt Haastrup, are a shot further back on nine under par.
Havret moved into contention with the low round of the day – a seven under par 65 – which was bogey free and nine under par before two blemishes in his final three holes meant he dropped back to 11 under par.
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