Jonathan Yates is just five back of the lead ahead of the final round of the Alps de Andalucia as he goes in search of another big week on the Alps Tour.
The Naas professional, who has claimed two podium finishes on the Tour already this season, couldn’t quite manage the heroics of the three eagles the day before but was rock-solid again in carding a one-under par round of 70 on Thursday to move to five-under par.
Yates posted three birdies and two bogeys in another stellar showing to share 17th ahead of the final round, trailing Dutch player Mike Toorop, 21 and Spaniard Alex Esmatges, 27, on top of the leaderboard at 132 (-10).
Four birdies and two bogeys for the Dutch, seven birdies and two bogeys also for the Spaniard: the joint leaders get their final round bids underway this morning together with Spaniard Mario Galiano Aguilar, one of the four players tied in 3rd position at 133 (-9).
Galiano shot the best score of the day, 64 (-7) – same result signed by French player Franck Medale – and jumped up the ranking putting himself in the position to seriously give it a try today.
The fight will be heated though, as Italian Michele Cea, Portuguese Tomàs Bessa and Spaniard Jordi Garcia del Moral – leader of the Order of Merit – are all one shot off the lead, and on 7th place at -8 are Swiss Mathias Eggenberger and Portuguese Vitor Londot Lopes.
The cut after the 2nd round fell at -2 (140), leaving 49 players (all pros, no amateurs) in the field to play the last round tomorrow and share the €40,000 prize fund.
Ireland’s Damian Murphy advanced safely to the final round on three-under par.
Live scoring HERE
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