Joakim Lagergren is one step closer to sealing a maiden European Challenge Tour title at the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses as the Swede displayed the composure of a seasoned champion, striding six shots clear on Day Three at Galgorm Castle.
The 22 year old was coolness personified in much more favourable conditions at the stunning Ballymena venue and a five under par third round 66 means he is well on course for a wire-to-wire victory.
Lagergren began the week in explosive style, carding a course record nine under par 62 on the opening day before proving he could also grind as strong winds failed to derail his title charge on the second day, a level par 71 handing him a one shot lead heading into the weekend.
His third round came somewhere in between his roller-coaster rounds during the week, as he strode clear with a superb four under par front nine and, while he opened his back nine with back to back bogeys, the Stockholm player picked up shots at the 12th and 15th holes to march into a near-unassailable lead.
“I was surprisingly calm out there,” said Lagergren. “I had no worries at all and kept calm all day. It’s always a bit nervous on the first tee but I was hitting good shots in the beginning and I got off to a good start so I think that’s a good thing.
“Then you are calm all day instead of getting angry when you’re hitting bad shots. The start was good for me today.
“I had good chances on the first three holes, it was just a matter of time before the first birdie would come. Then as soon as you get a couple under I felt more settled. I holed a nice 25 foot putt at the eight, having just missed the green, so that was a real bonus.
“Otherwise it was just solid play and I gave myself a lot of chances. I didn’t want to step down even if I was leading by three, I just wanted to keep making birdies so I wasn’t looking too much what everyone else was doing.”
Lagergren won three times on the satellite Nordic Golf League before earning a European Tour card for the 2012 season via Qualifying School, so he feels he is well capable of handling the pressure on the final day at Galgorm.
Certainly, he feels he has formed a special bond with the local fans, who have turned out in their thousands this week and are expected to set a new Challenge Tour attendance record on championship Sunday.
“The crowds have been great,” he said. “They are great fans, they have been cheering me on. I think there is something there, they really are urging me on. It’s really nice.
“I played with Dermot (McElroy, local amateur) the first two days and it feels like those fans were still following me today so it has been special.
“I have been in this position on The European Tour before, I was tied for the lead going into the weekend at the Madeira Islands Open, and also back in the Nordic Golf League, when I won a few times.
“I'm pretty experienced in this position. It’s not about thinking about winning, it’s just about playing golf instead.
“If I'm playing well tomorrow it’s going to be a really fun day. I haven’t even thought about a game plan yet but I just want to try and extend my lead.”
There is still some hope for the chasing pack at the pristine Galgorm Castle, with Englishman Oliver Wilson having come from seven shots behind here last year to earn a play-off, although the former Ryder Cup player eventually lost to Dutchman Daan Huizing.
Huizing’s compatriot Tim Sluiter, England’s Max Orrin and South African Brandon Stone were all faced with the task of hunting down the lead as they shared second place on eight under par heading into the final day.
Former European Tour winner Rhys Davies of Wales was one of the four players a shot further back on seven under, while Jonathan Caldwell was the best-placed Northern Irishman as he carded a two under 69 to finish the day on six under for the tournament.
