2014 winner Joakim Lagergren fired a sensational nine-under-par 61 to take a one-shot lead over Ireland’s Conor Purcell after three rounds of the NI Open Challenge Tour event at Galgorm Castle.
Lagergren, 32, was in a trio sharing second place three behind Purcell at the halfway stage but stormed into the lead on 15 under par after carding seven birdies and an eagle.
The Swede, who led after an opening 63 but then dropped three behind after a 71 on Friday, had chances to break 60 but missed five-foot and seven-foot birdie chances on the closing two greens.
Lagergren had led by three after picking up shots on the 14th and 15th but Purcell birdied two of his three closing holes to sign for a 65 which cut the margin to a stroke, with 2017 winner Robin Sciot-Siegrist in third place six off the pace following his 65.
“It felt like we were pushing each other with a lot of birdies,” said Lagergreen of his battle with playing partner Purcell.
“I have mixed feelings as I had a great chance for a 59. Unfortunately, I missed a five-footer on 17 and then a seven-footer on 18, but I played really well so I can’t complain. It would mean everything to win.”
Lagergren eagles 10th
Lagergren birdied three of his opening four holes to join Purcell at the top of the leaderboard and while four straight pars then followed, a run of birdie, eagle, birdie from the ninth opened up the prospect of him going really low.
Purcell went into this week 24th in the Challenge Tour rankings and victory on Sunday would go a long way to guaranteeing him one of the DP World Tour cards for 2025 that will be secured by the top 20 in the standings at season’s end.
Sciot-Siegrist’s fellow Frenchman Pierre Pineau shares fourth place, seven off the pace, with England’s Jack Senior who won the 2019 World Invitational at Galgorm Castle.
Dane Hamish Brown sits in sixth on seven under par, one shot ahead of Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Welshman Toby Hunt.
Ireland’s Gary Hurley is tied for 13th spot – 11 behind Lagergren – with Northern Irishman Jonathan Caldwell a further six shots adrift on two over.
The final round gets under way at 09:51 BST with Lagergren, Purcell and Sciot-Siegrist teeing off at 11:30.
