Day three digest: 2020 Celtic Classic

Everything you need to know from Moving Day at the 2020 Celtic Classic.

Syme sizzled, Horsfield held his nerve and Meronk put himself in position to be a history man again on day three at The Celtic Manor Resort.

Here is everything you need to know from Moving Day at the fourth event of the UK Swing.

Time for Syme to shine?

Connor Syme carded a stunning bogey free 63 to hold his first 54 hole lead on the European Tour. The Scot came home in 30 as he got to 15 under, a shot clear of England's Sam Horsfield. Syme has been trending in the right direction over the UK Swing and is hopeful of claiming a first European Tour win in Newport. "It’s a new experience for me - I’ve obviously had a second place before - but it’s the first time with a chance to win. I’m just going to take it as it comes," he said. "It’s obviously going to be great. It’s a great opportunity and that’s all you can hope for at the start of any week."

Patience pays off for Horsfield

Horsfield admitted he saw himself as an aggressive player when winning the Hero Open two weeks ago but he is taking a different approach this week. After entering day three with a one shot lead, he looked to be heading backwards with eight pars in a row but birdied the ninth and picked up two more shots on the back nine in a 68. He is now hoping that patient approach will bring him another win. "Me and Mick (Seaborn, caddie) were just talking about it on the 18th tee, the round I played today would have been very unusual for me in my first year I came out here," he said. "I just stuck with it today, stayed patient and when I first came out I was more aggressive and more just fiery, almost. It’s been a long time working, and to see that today, the result, was nice."

Meronk chasing history

Last season Adrian Meronk became the first Pole to win a European Tour operated event with his victory on the European Challenge Tour at the 57° Open de Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resort. That helped him make more history as he graduated off the Challenge Tour to become the first Pole to earn himself European Tour membership. After carding his lowest round on Tour with a 64 to get to 12 under, he will be looking to complete the set with a Polish victory on Sunday. "It’s been great," he said. "Obviously this year has been crazy for us but I’m happy to be here and happy to be competing. It’s great to be the first one from Poland. I’ve been in this position before so I will tell myself that tomorrow and try to enjoy it as much as possible. I’m very excited. That’s why we play, that’s what we practice for. I’m very excited, I can’t wait to play tomorrow."

Wood you believe it?

Quite often the draw on the weekend can throw up a bit of fun. On the Saturday of the 2018 Omega European Masters, the combination of Daniel Brooks and Chase Koepka led to a board saying BROOKS KOEPKA being carried around in Crans. Well the the 09.45 tee time on Saturday in Wales brought together Grant Forrest and Toby Tree. Where's Chris Wood when you need him?

Blistering Björk done for brunch

What is it with the Swedes and rapid rounds? Earlier this season at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Sebastian Soderberg recorded the fastest round in European Tour history at 97 minutes. Countryman Alexander Björk could not quite match that in Newport but his 159 minute effort after going out solo in the first group of the day was pretty impressive, even more so considering he fired a 66.