Daan Huizing said he will take some inspiration from Open Champion Phil Mickelson – a former winner on the Challenge Tour – into the final day of the Finnish Challenge after the young Dutch star carded a course record to climb back into contention at Kytäjä Golf.
The 21 year old has taken the Challenge Tour by storm in recent weeks, securing three top five finishes in four appearances, the other result a top 20, and he has not yet managed an over-par round on the tour as a professional.
Having won the Lytham Trophy by 11 shots and the St Andrews Links Trophy by 14 shots last year as an amateur, Huizing entered the professional arena widely-tipped as a future star and he has been living up to that promise.
An eight under par third round of 64 set a new course record on Kytäjä Golf’s North West course and moved Huizing into within four shots of the lead going into the final day.
The man from the small town of Soest was delighted with his round and will take inspiration from five-time Major Champion Mickelson as he aims to secure a maiden Challenge Tour trophy.
“I felt good this morning,” said Huizing. “I had been swinging it better than any other tournament this year so I felt like everything was there to shoot a low score so I just stuck to what I needed to do and hit a lot of shots close and made some nice putts.
“I started with four birdies in a row which was great. They were all good shots, close to the hole and it’s great to get off to such a strong start.
“I got a bit excited and three-putted for bogey at the sixth but then I pulled it back and kept doing my thing again. It worked out well so it’s nice to be in position again and I've closed the gap a little so I’ll keep swinging it like that tomorrow and stay patient and try to catch them.
“I remember Mickelson’s words after he was pretty far back at The Open and he said if he brought his A-game that he will definitely have a chance and that’s what I need to do tomorrow, bring my A-game and get another low one.
“The way he won The Open was beautiful and I think it’s awesome that he says one of the best rounds of his life was a five under at Muirfield.”
Stuart Manley equalled Huizing’s record later in the day to take a two shot lead into the final day and move into the driving seat for a maiden Challenge Tour title at Kytäjä Golf.
The Welshman entered the day three shots off Brandon Stone’s lead but eight birdies in a flawless round meant he overhauled that deficit and then some and will play alongside Stone and Jens Fahrbring, both two shots back in 16 under, on Championship Sunday.
