Johan Edfors took the outright lead at the XX Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata with an excellent birdie-birdie finish on the last two holes of his third round 67. The Swede posted a 54 aggregate of 14 under par 200 to lead Frenchman Raphael Pelliocoli by a single stroke.
Pellicioli posted an impressive third round score of six under 65 to take second place, with Steven Jeppesen of Sweden Norway’s Jan-Are Larsen in a tie for third on 12 under.
Rafael Gomez of Argentina – winner of the European Challenge Tour’s opening event of 2005, the 47th Abierto Mexicano de Golf, is a further stroke back, with England’s Andrew Butterfield and Inder Van Weerelt of the Netherlands carding third rounds of 64 to join a four way tie for sixth position on nine under par.
Edfors, winner of the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2003, began the day in a three man share of the lead, alongside Jeppesen and South African Michael Kirk. He got off to an indifferent start to his third round, and was one over for the day through six holes after a birdie, two bogeys and three pars.
The 28 year old, who won twice on the Challenge Tour during his victory season in 2003, banished his despondency with by picking up two strokes in a row with birdies on the eighth and ninth, before a flawless back nine, that included his powerful birdie-birdie finish saw him take the outright lead.
“I did get off to a slow start today,” said Edfors. “I was one over after six and not playing that well, but I managed to pick things up and then the birdie-birdie finish was very pleasing.”
Edfors just missed out on retaining his European Tour card last season and he is determined to return to the top as soon as possible. He looks back on 2004 as a learning experience that ended on an unlucky note at the second last event on the 2004 International Schedule, the Open de Madrid.
It was during the third round at the Club de Campo last year that Edfors, who was in a share of the lead with one hole to play and required a top two finish to retain his European Tour card for 2005, saw his ball mysteriously disappeared after an errant tee shot at the 18th.
Despite receiving the backing of his playing partners, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and Denmark's Anders Hansen, that the ball must have been picked up by a spectator, it was deemed lost and Edfors returned to the tee and finished with a double bogey for a round of 69 and 54-hole total of 202, two behind the leaders.
“What happened in Madrid was very unlucky,” he said, “I suppose last season was disappointing because I lost my card, but I had not realise how big a step up it would be to The European Tour.
“I learned a lot about my game, and found that I didn’t have all the shots you require at that level. I have learned a lot of new shots, especially in my short game and I want to get back to The Tour and be better prepared.
“I think I will get back there. I would say that you probably have to win a tournament or get a really good run of top three finished to qualify from the Challenge Tour this year, so hopefully I can get a win tomorrow and really get my season going.”
