(Reuters) - Martin Kaymer of Germany and South African James Kingston will jointly take a three shot lead into the final round of the Scandinavian Masters, as both players search for their first European Tour victory.
Kingston set the target of seven under par 203 with a third round 67 while Kaymer, who led the South African by a stroke overnight when sharing first place, matched him with a 68 of his own. The pair head Englishmen Paul Broadhurst and Nick Dougherty and Finn Mikko Ilonen who are all on four under par 206.
Both the leaders have been on the brink of winning on The European Tour without finishing off the job, Kaymer – who has two 2006 Challenge Tour victories on his record – as recently as ten weeks ago.
Despite being in his rookie year, the promising 22 year old German shared the lead in The Celtic Manor Wales Open in June after three rounds, but faded to 14th place. However, he intends to use the experience to good advantage.
"I had my chance in Wales but couldn't take it, but I hope that was a learning process for tomorrow," he said.
An indifferent front nine, in which he misclubbed and found water at the sixth to bogey, left Kaymer playing catch-up. But a better homeward nine, surviving just one more bad drive that nearly landed him in the hazard on the penultimate hole, produced the two birdies he needed to match Kingston.
The German also admitted he was looking forward to playing in front of the huge Swedish crowds who traditionally flock to this event and who swarmed around the tees, fairways and greens of Arlandastad Golf during the third round.
“It was unbelievable today and around the 17th and the 18th it was really good,” he said. “I really enjoyed my tee shot on the 18th and I hit it really well as well. But there was a huge crowd and that is always really good to play in front of. I hope it will be the same tomorrow. In fact I hope there are more people tomorrow – I am really looking forward to it.”
Kingston's chances of victory have come in the 2005 and 2006 UBS Hong Kong Opens, in which he has had to settle for the runner-up spot both times, effectively handing the title on the first occasion to Miguel Angel Jimenez and on the second to Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie with last hole errors.
But, as one of the Tour's most consistent performers, Kingston again showed his worth with an error-free display after an early bogey on the third hole where his five iron approach shot flew the green.
But the 41 year old recovered well with birdies at the fourth, ninth, 11th and 17th and refused to think back on his missed chances, however, aiming to just go out and try and repeat his steady displays already this week.
"Hitting fairways and greens and eliminating mistakes is what counts here," he said. “And I will try to play just as I have for three days. I know I've been in this situation before but I don't want to put pressure on myself by letting my mind wander."
Of the chasing pack, Broadhurst surged into form after being in danger of missing the cut on Friday. The former Ryder Cup player is looking for a big finish as this may be his final event of the year.
Broadhurst carded a superb 64 in the third round before revealing: "My wife has to go into hospital for surgery next week so I'll be out of action for about 12 weeks with four kids and a sick wife to take care of.
"That will be the priority. I might be able to play the British Masters at The Belfry because it's local but it's a good incentive to get some money in the bank before a long break."
It looked as though Broadhurst's season was over on Friday afternoon when he stood five over par with four holes to play, but the 42 year old birdied three of those holes to make the cut with just a shot to spare.
Broadhurst, who won both his matches in The 1991 Ryder Cup and missed out on automatic qualification by just one place last year, then produced an even better finish to his third round to boost his chances of a seventh European Tour title.
Birdies on the third and fourth took him to the turn in 32 and he picked up another shot on the 11th. A bogey on the 12th halted his charge temporarily but he again tamed the tough closing stretch with birdies on the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th - the latter from 30 feet.
"I was on my way home yesterday but birdied three of the last four holes and here I've birdied four of the last five. They are some of the toughest holes on the course so it's a great finish," Broadhurst added.
"The scoring is so bunched that anyone who shot three or four under was going to go flying up the leaderboard but I didn't dream of shooting six under par to be fair.I thought anything par or better would be a really good score and to shoot 64 means a few things went my way."
Fellow Englishman Dougherty is alongside Broadhurst on four under after another erratic display in a round of 69.
Dougherty, seeking his first win of the year after six top-finishes - including seventh in the US Open Championship at Oakmont - carded three birdies and two bogeys in his first six holes and claimed a share of the lead with a birdie on the tenth.
But the former protege of six-time Major winner Nick Faldo then double-bogeyed the 12th for the second day running and dropped another shot at the next to fall five off the pace.
Birdies at the 17th and 18th, however, revived his chances of claiming the first prize and the 25 year old said: "That was just the finish I needed and it keeps me in there - just.
"I didn't play well, I didn't have my swing together and in the crosswind it was just a battle. My caddie and I also got a couple of clubs wrong - we flew the green on the fourth and 13th for bogeys - and it all adds up to a bit of a struggle. My swing is not far away but it is far enough but I think I did really well to hang in there."
Alongside them is Ilonen who carded a fine 67 while the home Swedish challenge is headed by Peter Hedblom and Joakim Bäckström who both finished on three under par 207 after respective rounds of 68 and 69.
