Swedish rookie Steven Jeppesen and Dane Knud Storgaard share the lead going into the final round of the Madeira Island Open after battling against strong winds to reach seven under par 209, three clear of the chasing pack.
Following the weather disruptions earlier in the week, the third round was completed this morning with high winds swirling around the spectacular Santo da Serra course making conditions even more testing.
Jeppesen shot a two under par 70, the back nine of which he completed this morning in 35 strokes, for the third lowest round of the day with only Fernando Roca of Spain (68) and South African Richard Sterne (69) breaking 70. Both Roca and Sterne moved into the group on three under par in joint seventh place.
Having achieved a hole-in-one on the eighth hole the previous evening, Jeppesen, who only turned professional on the eve of the Qualifying School Finals last November, returned to the course to pick up another three birdies with two dropped shots to take the lead for the first time.
Storgaard, back on The European Tour after recovering from testicular cancer last year, matched Jeppesen’s 54 hole total with a one over par 73.
They lead Welshman Garry Houston (72), England’s Warren Bennett (71), American Rob Rashell (76) and Scotland’s Euan Little (72) by three strokes.
England’s Jamie Spence, who led at the halfway stage, saw his hopes of a third European Tour victory take a battering as took 44 strokes to reach the turn before eventually signing for an 80 to finish on three under par but still only four strokes off the lead.
Spence’s third round total was matched by his playing partner Brad Kennedy, who started the third round one shot off the lead, has he too took 80 after signing for an eight on the final hole after finding trouble on the left off the tee.
