Eugenio Chacarra is in the box seat to claim his second DP World Tour title of the season after reaching -17 on Saturday at the Open d’Italia, while a third successive round in the 60s has Tom McKibbin just outside the top 10.
It was a steady day for the Holywood man who birdied the first and last holes, also taking care of the 13th in between and carded pars on each of the 15 others to post a second 68 to accompany the 67 he shot in round two and he’s eyeing a first top-10 finish on the DP World Tour since last year’s Open de Espana.
The story of the day was Eugenio Chacarra who began four shots behind 36-hole leader Joaquín Niemann, and delivered an impressive third round of 65 to surge into a two-stroke lead at Circolo Golf Torino.
The 26-year-old opened his day with a birdie before being forced to wait until the 7th for his next; the first of three which saw him go out in 32 and apply the pressure at the top.
A bogey at the 13th did minimal damage, as the two-time DP World Tour winner remained calm in hot conditions to pick up another three shots on his way home, and finish six under par for the day.
Chacarra, currently sixth on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, will now target a second title in three weeks, having triumphed at the KLM Open in Amsterdam earlier this month.
Chasing him will be Niemann, who carded an even par 71 to settle in a share of second alongside Englishman Matt Wallace at 15 under par.
The Chilean began his third round in style, making five birdies and just the one bogey on his front nine to create some breathing room on moving day. Three consecutive dropped shots after the turn tightened the race up, as did another at the 15th, before a birdie-bogey finish cancelled out any ground he had hoped to regain.
Wallace continued his efficient week, following up a record-breaking second round 62 with a 67. The 36-year-old made four birdies on his front nine and two on his back, a bogey on either side of his card not enough to halt his momentum in Turin.
The trio will now come together in the final group on Sunday, with the format and tee times adjusted due to predicted afternoon thunderstorms.
Behind them will be Germany’s Nicolai von Dellinghausen and Spain’s Ángel Ayora, who sit in a share of fourth at 13 under, and sixth-place South African Dylan Frittelli.
Dane Jeff Winther, having equalled the course record set by Wallace, and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay are a further two shots back at 11 under par, tied for seventh.
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