Roope Kakko was storming towards a first European Challenge Tour victory as a professional and, with it an almost guaranteed European Tour card for 2012, he took a four shot lead into the back nine on the final day of the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic.
The Finn’s career on the Challenge Tour began with a stunning home win in 2004 as an amateur and it may be about to end with a second victory as he cleared the front nine in three under par to move to 14 under overall, three clear of Daniel Im.
The 31 year old proved unequivocally that the nerves of the occasion would not half him in his charge for graduation to The European Tour as he started with back to back birdies at the stunning Almouj Golf, The Wave.
He picked up another shot at the fourth hole and while his playing partner and closest challenger Daniel Im picked up a shot at the third to apply some pressure, he bogeyed the far four eighth hole to drop back to ten under, four shots back.
Lucas Bjerregaard joined Im in tied second as he reached the turn in two under to move to nine under before another birdie at the tenth moved him to ten under. It could be a huge day for the Dane as a top three would likely secure him a place in next week’s Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club.
