Thorbjørn Olesen defied windy conditions to charge into the lead at during the third round of the Sicilian Open.
Six players were tied for the lead overnight, but with a European Tour record-equalling five shots separating the 65 players to make the cut, it was always going to be an important day’s play.
And 22 year old Dane Olesen, three times a runner-up during his rookie campaign last season, eagled the par five 14th to move to 11 under par.
That came after three birdies and a solitary bogey, with clubhouse leader Andrew Parr and big-hitting Nicolas Colsaerts his closest challengers.
Canadian Parr was amongst the early starters, and he cut through the field with a bogey-free 67.
“I was hitting the ball really well all day and I just found a nice groove out there,” said the 28 year old.
“After a little break from playing competitive golf it takes a little while to find your rhythm again, but each day I’ve felt more and more comfortable out there. Today was just a very solid day.”
Belgian Colsaerts was three under with one to play, one ahead of Lloyd Saltman, Søren Kjeldsen and first-round leader Peter Lawrie.
Sweden’s Pelle Edberg had burst into the lead with three birdies in his first four holes, but four bogeys in a row dropped him back into the pack.
