Jordan Smith was delighted with the way he dealt with adversity after recovering from having to call a penalty on himself to sit just one shot back heading into the final round of the Jonsson Workwear Open.
The Englishman had already handled one setback in round three at Glendower Golf Club, overcoming an opening bogey to record four birdies in a row from the third and set up a stunning eagle on the 11th to join the lead.
He then found himself at the side of the 13th green and while addressing the ball he caused it to move, with the movement so slight it could not be seen on the tournament coverage.
The 31-year-old called over a referee to explain the situation and took a one-stroke penalty to bogey the par four.
But rather than feel sorry for himself, the two-time DP World Tour winner sandwiched a two-putt gain on the 17th with approaches to three feet at the 16th and 18th for a birdie-birdie-birdie finish and a round of 65.
"I'm really pleased with the way I played and how I dealt with that penalty shot," said Smith, who is 19 under heading into day four.
"It's just one of those things. I've had a couple of practice swings next to it and the ball looked like it was sitting fine, not like it was going to move. I just addressed the ball and it moved unfortunately.
"It was pretty blatant, you could see the ball move fully so it's one of those things that I had to do. I'm just pleased with how I coped with it and kept going throughout the rest of the round.
"It's the first time that's ever happened to me but it's just one of those things that you've got to take on the chin and get on with it."
