Kristoffer Broberg’s meteoric rise on the European Challenge Tour continued at the Norwegian Challenge as the Swede took one step closer to a sensational double with a seven under par third round of 65, which moved him one shot clear on 20 under going into the final day.
Broberg, who emerged victorious at the Finnish Challenge last week with an imperious six shot win, threatened to run away with his second title in as many weeks when he negotiated the front nine at Byneset GK in an incredible seven under par.
That included two eagles, at the par five first and par five seventh, and birdies at the third, fourth and sixth at the Trondheim venue.
He picked up another shot at the 13th hole to move four shots clear of the field but a wayward second shot which resulted in a bogey at the par five 17th, allied with a late rally from playing partner Alvaro Velasco, meant Broberg finished the day just a single shot clear of the Spaniard.
“I played really well on the front nine and I was delighted to reach the turn in 29 but I was driving quite badly on the back nine so that cost me,” said Broberg, who won a 54-hole satellite tour event in Norway last year with a stunning overall score of 25 under par.
“I was hitting the ball really well early on and I holed a few putts so it was nice. I hit a nice drive on the first hole and a three wood to eight metres and holed it. Then I hit driver and rescue to four metres at the seventh and holed that too so it was nice to play so well at the par fives.
“I just didn’t trust the driver on the back nine. I had no confidence in the driver and that affected my confidence with other parts of my game so I'm going to work on that tomorrow.
“I'm still really confident going into tomorrow because I'm hitting my irons really well and putting well. It would be great to get another win on the board.”
Velasco, meanwhile, looked to be out of the contest as he was six shots off the pace at the turn after bogies at the fourth and fifth holes offset his birdies at the first and seventh but a superb five under par back nine launched him right back into the hunt for a third Challenge Tour title.
“The back nine was really nice,” said the 2010 Challenge Tour Rankings winner. “I got some momentum going and it was great to finish like that.
“Kristoffer was doing amazing and got off to such a great start. I struggled a little bit on the front nine so I needed a good back nine to have a chance tomorrow because I was so far behind. I'm really happy with the position I'm in now though and it’s going to be close tomorrow but really enjoyable.”
Oliver Wilson is still in with a chance of securing a first career title but he slipped four shots back having led overnight alongside Velasco, after a two under par 70 left him on 16 under par.
The former Ryder Cup player had a positive front nine with four birdies and a bogey helping him to a three under par front nine but he struggled on the way back and bogeys at the 11th and 18th along with a birdie at the 17th meant he finished the day in third place.
The highest placed Norwegian going into the final day was amateur Anders Engell, who wowed the crowds with a seven under par round of 65, which elevated him 27 places up the field into tied sixth on 14 under par, while England’s Matthew Southgate carded the best round of the day with a nine under par 63 moving him to sixth place alongside Engell having begun the day in 56th spot.
