Marcel Schneider claimed the clubhouse lead after carding a seven under par round of 65 during a rain-affected day three at the Bridgestone Challenge.
After a five hour and 30 minute delay due to heavy rain and lightning at Heythrop Park Resort, the German managed to keep his focus and birdie two of his last three holes to reach 12 under par overall.
The 26 year old is seven shots back from Belgium’s Thomas Detry, who broke the course record during round one with a stunning 12 under par round of 60.
But Schneider was happy to have kept his concentration throughout the day, and is optimistic of putting in another good round in the Oxfordshire countryside tomorrow.
“I have played really, really well for the last three days,” he said. “Today I managed to roll the putts in and I managed to play really solid from tee to green.
“I got lucky on the 14thas I holed a long pitch for eagle, but in the end it was a really good day and I am happy with what I have done.
“My plan is to just keep going as I have been tomorrow and try to keep up my good form. I will not look too much at the leaderboard and just play my own game.
“It has been really good to play at Heythrop Park this week as you can go really low if you are able to play your best shots.”
Top of the leaderboard is former World Amateur Number Eight Detry, who picked up three birdies and one bogey during nine holes to reach 19 under par overall.
Spain’s Scott Fernandez, who played at The Open Championship at Royal Troon this year after coming through a qualifier at Gailes Links, is five back from Detry along with America’s Sihwan Kim.
Road to Oman Number Four Jordan Smith sits alongside Schneider in fifth place after making five birdies and one bogey during the 12 holes he completed before play was suspended overnight due to darkness.
