Jens Fahrbring is enjoying life on The European Tour as he aims for a remarkable win at the 72° OPEN D'ITALIA presented by DAMIANI.
The Swede has played most of the season on The Challenge Tour, winning the, D+D REAL Czech Challenge in May, but had missed the cut in all four of his European Tour events until this week.
He has looked very much at home at Golf Club Milano, though, firing 67-64-68 to sit top of the leaderboard on 17 under alongside Martin Kaymer and Romain Wattel.
Kaymer had threatened to run away from the field at times on Saturday but Fahrbring found a knack of getting birdies at the right time to reel him in and revealed that, once he had got over the early nerves of being in the last group, he had thoroughly enjoyed the biggest day of his career so far.
"It was so much fun out there today," he said. "The crowds were great and it is always so much fun to play in front of a lot of people.
"I was a little nervous over the first few holes today but then I hit a great shot into the fifth and made birdie and that was a real turning point for me. I was really relaxed after that and enjoyed the round.
"We'll see what happens tomorrow. I know I don't have to be perfect which helps – I know I can make a good score around this course and hopefully I can shoot the best score tomorrow."
Wattel had spent most of the day in the chasing pack as he turned in 35 but he came alive on the back nine with three birdies and an eagle catapulting him up the leaderboard.
The Frenchman has yet to claim a European Tour title and is looking forward to Sunday, when he will go out in the final group alongside Kaymer.
"I am really happy with the way I played today," he said. "I am always happy to shoot 66 but especially on moving day at the Italian Open. The back nine was really good and I think the main difference was the putting.
"I am looking forward to tomorrow – I am going to try and do my best and hope that it's good enough to win."
Bernd Wiesberger is two shots behind the leaders and, despite the low scoring so far this week, the Alstom Open de France champion knows he will have to be on his game on Sunday.
"I struggled a bit on the back but I made some more birdies and all in all it was a successful day but I scrambled well," he said.
"They're shorter holes but you still want to be on the fairway to attack the flags and then there is a score out there. But if you're just off a little bit, you have to be careful."
