A fine Saturday afternoon from Tom McKibbin saw the Holywood man move himself just outside the top-15 heading into the final round of the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos.
The 19-year-old returned in the morning to complete his second round and, after securing his weekend tee time with a five-under 67, rode that momentum into a three-under 69 in his third round to move up to six-under-par.
That has him in a share of 16th place heading into the final day, six shots off leaders Todd Clements and Jeong weon Ko, who lead the way by one stroke at 12-under-par.
France’s Ko was the better of the two in the third round at Vau Óbidos, a five-under 67 giving him the early clubhouse lead, and he was joined at the summit by Clements after his own 68.
The pair lead the way by one from France’s David Ravetto, who posted the best round of the day thanks to an eight-under 64 to move up to solo third, with Oscar Lengden, Pierre Pineau and Oliver Lindell at 10-under-par.
McKibbin will be hoping for a strong finish to his tournament as, at 13th in the Road to Mallorca, another big result could put him one step closer to his DP World Tour card next season, and he’ll aim to kick on from three birdies in his last six holes in his third round.
Derry man Ruaidhri McGee is also in a position to move up the leaderboard after a 69 of his own, taking him to five-under-par and a share of 25th thanks to five birdies and two bogeys.
A 74 in round three dropped Conor Purcell down to level-par and a share of 55th, while Gary Hurley and Gavin Moynihan are both tied-66th at three-over-par after rounds of 75 and 76 respectively.
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