Sihwan Kim was grasping firmly to his one-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard as the race for the inaugural Kharkov Superior Cup edged towards a dramatic climax, with eight players within three shots of the lead.
Entering the final day as the overnight leader on 11 under, Kim’s round got off to an ideal start as he birdied the opening two holes and a dropped shot at the third was immediately nullified by a birdie at the par four fourth.
He played steadily thereafter with five consecutive pars to take him to the turn in two under, leaving him on 13 under for the tournament.
A real battle was developing between the Korean and his playing partner Daan Huizing and the Dutchman made a stunning up and down for birdie at the driveable par four ninth, after his tee shot found the rough on the right, to move to 12 under and pile the pressure on Kim.
Daniel Brooks, meanwhile, was on fire as the Englishman chased a maiden Challenge Tour title, carding four birdies in his opening nine to reach the turn in four under and a bogey at the tenth followed by a birdie at the 12th meant he shared second place with Huizing when he stepped onto the 13th tee.
Brooks’ compatriot Jason Barnes, Denmark’s Mark F Haastrup and Italian Andrea Pava, chasing a third win which would seal automatic promotion to The European Tour, were all a shot further back in 11 under par while three more players were on ten under and still dreaming of glory in Ukraine.
