Casey Jarvis will take a commanding five stroke lead into the final round of the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal after impressing on moving day to edge closer to a maiden Challenge Tour win.
The South African carded six birdies and one bogey to post a five under par round of 65 to reach 17 under par for the week, five clear of Welshman Stuart Manley who equalled the course record with a bogey free nine under par 61 to catapult himself into second place.
The 19-year-old, who held a one shot lead overnight, birdied three of his first five holes to stretch his advantage before adding birdies on the 11th, 13th and 15th on the way home with his only dropped shot of the day coming on the 16th.
Jarvis, who has finished in second place on three separate occasions this year, is hoping to stick to the game plan that has seen him post rounds of 65-63-65 this week.
“I've been in contention a few times this year, so I feel like I'm learning each time I'm in contention,” he said. “I'm not going to go out there and force it. I feel like a couple of times when I’ve been in this position I've tried to do that, but I just need to stick to my game.
“I'm being a little less aggressive this week and it seems to be paying off. I'm feeling comfortable in front and I like the golf course. The views are unbelievable and I feel like the course suits my game.
“I always have a look at the leaderboard, so whenever there was one, I did check it out. I didn't focus on it too much, but just kept playing the game that I planned to play.”
Jarvis’ form this season has seen him climb to fifth in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, and after he found his range with the putter early on moving day, he was pleased with how the rest of his game followed suit.
“I kept the ball in play off the tee and I hit my irons nicely,” he added. “I played really well. Today I actually made a few more putts than I did yesterday so overall, really happy.
“I got a good feel for the greens early and got the pace from the fifth hole where I hit a good long putt, so I had confidence in the putter from then. I feel like I had good approach shots throughout, so I found it easier to manage my way around the course with that.”
Scotland’s Euan Walker and American Julian Suri share third place on 11 under par, with Jeppe Kristian Andersen from Denmark in fifth on ten under par.
Three players share sixth on nine under par, including Portugal’s Tomas Gouveia, Switzerland’s Benjamin Rusch and Frenchman Robin Roussel.
The final round gets under way at 8:45am local time with Jarvis teeing off alongside Manley and Walker at 10:57.
