World Number Two Henrik Stenson remained on course for an emotional victory on home soil as the final round of the Nordea Masters began in Malmö.
Tied for the overnight lead with England’s Eddie Pepperell, The Race to Dubai champion holed a 20 foot birdie chance at the second to reach 14 under for the week at PGA Sweden National.
That took him one clear of Pepperell – who was seeking a maiden win on The European Tour – and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, who recorded a birdie at the long first.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, France’s Victor Dubuisson and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros were all two shots off the pace on 12 under as an exciting finish loomed for the packed galleries.Ireland’s Shane Lowry and France’s Alex Levy had shown the later starters the sort of scoring that was possible, both signing for rounds of 66 to set the clubhouse mark at six under.
Pepperell drew level with a ten foot birdie at the third, but Stenson, looking to win on home soil for the first time having twice been a runner-up in this event, then surged clear with consecutive gains.
The 38 year old hit his tee shot to six feet at the fourth before holing from 25 feet at the next.
At 16 under he was two clear of Pepperell and Gallacher, whilst Stenson’s friend and compatriot Robert Karlsson was compiling a remarkable run to sit level with Dubuisson in fourth.
The 2008 European Number One was nine under par for the day through 16 holes, having carded seven birdies and an eagle on the long 11th.
Stenson went in the water at the ninth and bogeyed, and although he birdied the tenth he still found himself one behind Dubuisson and Jaidee.
Gallacher was alongside the Swede in third, with Pepperell a shot further back alongside Robert-Jan Derksen after a bogey at the tenth.
