Callum Shinkwin edged closer to his maiden European Tour title after reaching the turn in the final round with a one shot advantage at the KLM Open.
Shinkwin lost his playing privileges last year and is in a battle to remain on the European Tour this season, sitting 126th in the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex.
But the Englishman looks set to improve his chances as he edged the battle with playing partner Sergio Garcia to lead the Spaniard by one shot at 17 under par.
Garcia took the early initiative and led by two after the fifth hole, but back to back bogeys saw Shinkwin nudge ahead by one at the seventh as the 15 time European Tour winner endured a mixed front nine at The International.
Danish rising star Nicolai Højgaard remained in contention at 14 under alongside Matt Wallace, with James Morrison one shot further back in Amsterdam.
Højgaard showed no signs of nerves at the opening hole with a cool birdie from 12 feet to immediately reduce the deficit to one shot behind Garcia and Shinkwin, with playing partner Morrison following suit with a gain.
The final pair produced great approaches into the first to regain their two shot advantage and move to 16 under for the tournament.
Højgaard shoehorned another birdie attempt at the second after a fine approach from the rough, but there was further movement above him on the leaderboard.
Garcia could only find the rough with his second shot at the same hole and left a testing putt from 15 foot to save par. Shinkwin could not hole his birdie attempt but took sole lead at 16 under when his Spanish playing partner carded his first bogey in 31 holes.
Morrison joined his 18-year-old playing partner at 14 under with a birdie at the third, however, behind him the 15 time European Tour winner got a fine break to get his nose in front on his own.
Garcia landed his approach to within three feet of the front edge of the par five third green, which is surrounded by water, to dial into close range for an eagle chance.
He could only birdie the hole but when Shinkwin three putted from the greenside rough, he was joint leader at 16 under.
Wallace added his third birdie at the fifth to move alongside Morrison and Højgaard at 14 under before Garcia continued his momentum to surge ahead.
The 39-year-old landed his tee shot into the fourth to 20 feet but judged his awkward downhill putt to perfection for another gain to take the solo lead and when he fired in a fine approach at the next, Garcia was two shots clear at 18 under.
Højgaard was on the final pair’s tail, carding his second birdie at the sixth to sit three adrift of leader but just one behind Shinkwin.
However, there was a two shot swing at the sixth when Garcia made an uncharacteristic mistake with an iron into the green to make his second bogey, which Shinkwin capitalised on with a birdie to move alongside the Spaniard at 17 under.
Højgaard recorded his first bogey of his final round to sit three shots behind the leaders alongside Wallace, but playing partner Morrison also dropped a shot at the seventh to go to 13 under.
It was the seventh hole which proved problematic for Garcia and after he three putted for back to back bogeys, Shinkwin led the tournament by one shot.
The Englishman made a fine par save after finding rough with his second at the eighth to maintain his one shot lead as Garcia finally carded his first par of the round, before the pair parred the difficult ninth.
