Stuart Manley equalled the course record to take a two shot lead into the final day of the Finnish Challenge as an eight under par 64 put him in the driving seat for a maiden European Challenge Tour title at Kytäjä Golf.
The Welshman entered the day three shots off Brandon Stone’s lead but eight birdies in a flawless round meant he overhauled that deficit and then some and will play alongside Stone and Jens Fahrbring, both two shots back in 16 under, on Championship Sunday.
The 34 year old started with a par but his round caught fire thereafter as he recorded three birdies on the trot from the second hole before two more, at the seventh and ninth, took him to the turn in five under.
He pulled clear of the chasing pack as he picked up shots at the tenth and 12th before holing a 40-foot putt for birdie at the 15th to move him to 18 under. The former Walker Cup player is relishing the opportunity to claim a first title, having been in position to do so a number of times before.
“It was really enjoyable out there,” he said. “The company with Jens and Duncan (Stewart) was great. I played with Jens in the opening two days too and he is a good lad. We had some good banter on the course so that makes the round a lot more enjoyable.
“I think I had 25 putts today, at least Duncan told me that on the last hole, he was obviously counting! He couldn’t believe some of the putts I was holing today and there was a lot of distance to add to that, I holed some big ones so that was nice.
“There were a lot of ten and 12-footers I holed out there too and I made some good par saves. I think the sun will be out on the final day and I play better in the sun. The crowds are great and the course is good so I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve been in this position a few times before and I just need to go for it. I need to play well and move up the Rankings and think about the bigger picture. I need to go out there and be positive and if I do that I can’t do any more.”
Manley will play alongside Fahrbring, who carded a six under par 66, for the fourth day running as they battle it out in the final group alongside young South African Brandon Stone, whose 69 left him in tied second with the Swede on 16 under.
Daan Huizing is another young gun hoping to claim a first title after the Dutchman set the course record of 64 – later equalled by Manley – to move into tied fourth place, four shots off the lead, alongside Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima and Swede Niklas Lemke.
Photo: ©golfari.fi/Kai Kilappa