Scott Hend eagled the final hole at Wentworth Club to snatch the outright lead at the end of a thrilling BMW PGA Championship third round.
Australian Hend and Masters Tournament winner Danny Willett struggled for much of the day in the final pairing to blow the tournament wide open, and England’s Tyrrell Hatton looked set to hold the lead going into the final day when his brilliant 66 took him to eight under par.
But Hend fired an eight iron to within five feet of the par-five 18th and duly converted the putt for a round of 73 that left him one clear on nine under.
Hatton was one ahead of compatriot Lee Westwood, who carded a flawless 68, and Korean Y E Yang, with Willett part of a six-strong group a shot further back which also includes two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer.
Two-time European Tour winner Hend’s only deviation from par over the first ten holes came with a bogey at the seventh, but after a good approach led to a birdie on the 11th he paid the price for some wayward drives on the back nine with dropped shots at the 13th, 14th, and 15th – the latter the result of a missed five footer.
His luck turned at the penultimate hole, when a miscued approach bounced off rather than into a bush, and he was able to move to the top of a congested leaderboard with three faultless shots at the last.
“It was very fortunate - I was just trying to get it anywhere on the green there and two-putt for a birdie," the 43 year old said of his efforts on the 18th.
“Fortunately enough it rolled in there close and I made a three.” - Scott Hend
Asked what it would mean to win such a prestigious event, Hend added: “I’m not really thinking that far ahead right now – I’m just thinking about what I’m going to have tonight to be honest.
“I’ll just go about my work tomorrow and try and get the ball a bit more off the centre of the club , a bit more consistency in the swing and what will be, will be.”
Hend, Willett and Y E Yang shared the halfway lead at Wentworth but were a combined 11 over par on day three.
Willett, who also shared the 36-hole lead in the Irish Open last week but struggled to a 74 and eventually finished 23rd, enjoyed a two-shot lead after a birdie on the fifth, but played his last ten holes in five over par to card a disappointing 76.
