Home favourite Rikuya Hoshino hopes his local knowledge can help earn him a maiden DP World Tour title at the 2023 ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP.
Japan's Hoshino made five birdies and a single bogey on Saturday to sit two shots off the lead held by Aaron Cockerill heading into the final round.
Hoshino is no stranger to this week's host venue, having won the Heiwa PGM Championship at PGM Ishioka Golf Club on the Japan Golf Tour in October.
And the 26-year-old feels having course experience gives him an advantage as he bids to win his seventh JGTO title and a first on the DP World Tour.
He said: "Yes, I believe knowing the course is an advantage. My course management worked very well in the last three days even as course conditions became tougher.
"One of my goals for this year would be to win at least one tournament. So, it would be great to win on the DP World Tour in my hometown."
Speaking about his third-round 66, Hoshino, whose best DP World Tour result so far was a joint-sixth finish at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in February, added: "It is the best round of the week, actually I wanted to shoot six under today. But I am still in a good position and just aim to win tomorrow.
"I played pretty well except the last hole today. I will keep this momentum tomorrow.
"I hope to catch up with the leader in the first couple of holes (tomorrow) and see how it goes. I'll just try to put the leader under pressure as much as possible."
