Jonathan Caldwell remains in the hunt for a maiden European Tour title as he enters the final round of the Tenerife Open just four shots off the lead.
The Clandeboye professional has had the measure of Golf Costa Adeje this week and he hit his stripes again on moving day, powering home with six birdies in a five-under par round of 66.
The 36-year old, who enjoyed a share of 21st last week at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open, will be hoping to go a few places better after moving into a tie for 11th at 13-under par, just four shots back with it all to play for ahead of Sunday’s final round.
There’s two tied at the top as Kalle Samooja recorded a five-under 66 to join overnight leader Nicolai von Dellingshausen at the top of the leaderboard with a large chasing pack in hot pursuit. Both of the leaders are seeking a maiden European Tour win, with 2018 European Challenge Tour graduate Samooja having lost out in a play-off in each of his full seasons on Tour.
Von Dellingshausen entered the third round with a three-shot lead at Golf Costa Adeje, and he kept his nose in front for most of the day as his rivals closed in, signing for a one-under par round of 70 to get to 17 under par after holing a crucial putt on the last.
“The last two holes were actually a boost,’ said Von Dellingshausen. “I misread my first putt by quite a bit and then rolled in from two metres on the 17th, and then that swinger on the last. Putting was good the last few days as well, especially from those distances. It’s always good when you finish with a putt like that.
“I had to be very patient. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have any nerves just going out here. It’s a situation that is not completely new to me, but it’s a different set up on the European Tour. I tried to stay patient and I did. I wasn’t forcing anything as I know from the past that things can go wrong at times. I didn’t hit enough fairways to really hit it close especially in the wind.”
Finn Samooja recorded six birdies and a single bogey in his round of 66 to join the German at the summit, one shot clear of South African Dean Burmester, who had a rollercoaster back nine that included three birdies, three bogies and an eagle.
Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez is the leading Spanish player at 15 under par alongside Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Yikeun Chang of South Korea, with another Spaniard in Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, South African Garrick Higgo and American pair Sean Crocker and John Catlin one shot further back.
- Full scoring HERE
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