Sebastian Heisele will take a narrow lead into the final round of the Open de Bretagne as he goes in search of his first European Challenge Tour title at Golf Bluegreen Pléneuf-Val-André.
The German edged one step closer to his maiden victory with a flawless five under par 65, which included three birdies and an eagle, to hold a one-stroke lead over Englishman Dale Whitnell.
Heisele started the day two shots behind overnight leader Josh Geary and continued in the same form that saw him card a six under par 64 on Friday, with an eagle and a birdie on the sixth and seventh holes, as he jumped up the leaderboard on another day of tough scoring conditions at the seaside venue.
‘’To follow up a 64 with a 65 is always a good result, so I’m really pleased with that,’’ he said. ‘’The wind was blowing again today which made it challenging at times and the course is still firm, so you need to think out there.’’
‘’I’ve just come back from a foot injury. I was annoyed to miss the cut in Northern Ireland by one, but I had a good week in Belgium last week and again so far this week, so really happy with where my game is at.
‘’I haven’t been in this position too many times, but I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing and trust myself. There’s plenty of good players behind trying to catch me, so I’ve got to just play each hole at a time and avoid the big numbers.’’
After securing his first Challenge Tour victory in ten years at the KPMG Trophy in Belgium last week, Whitnell will go in search of his second title in as many tournaments when he tees it up in the final group tomorrow. Should he do so, he would become the second player this season, following Antoine Rozner at the Turkish Airlines Challenge and the Challenge de España, to capture back-to-back Challenge Tour titles.
Home favourite Rozner produced a strong back nine, where he carded four birdies, to sign for a four under 66 for tied third at five under as he aims to secure automatic promotion to the European Tour with his third victory of the season.
He sits alongside a group of nine other players, which includes Rozner’s compatriots Damien Perrier and Robin Sciot-Siegrist, German Marcel Schneider, overnight leader Geary and Switzerland’s Raphaël de Sousa.
Englishmen Richard Mansell and Jordan Wrisdale, Austrian Martin Wiegele and Scotland’s Scott Henry also sit on five under par, just three shots off the lead.
The final round will begin at 8:10am local time, with Schneider, Whitnell and Heisele getting under way in the final group at 11:50am.
