David Horsey will take a two-shot lead into the final round as he looks to win a second Made in Denmark title on Sunday.
On a day of low scoring at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, the 2015 champion produced the lowest round of them all with a 64 to get to 14 under and lead the way from American Julian Suri.
Another American was delighting the crowds as two-time Major champion John Daly rolled back the years to match Suri’s 65 and sit at 11 under alongside English duo Chris Paisley and Robert Rock and Frenchman Grégory Havret.
Local favourite Thorbjørn Olesen was then at ten under alongside Australian Wade Ormsby and English trio Aaron Rai – playing his first European Tour event since gaining his card with his third Challenge Tour win of the season – Matt Wallace and Steve Webster.
Frenchman Benjamin Hebert was at nine under after a remarkable day of movement on the leaderboard in Farsø that saw every player in the top 12 have a share of the lead at some point with the exceptions of Ormsby and Rock.
Horsey did not have the best start to the season, missing four of his first five cuts, but he has missed just two since with three top tens as he seeks a fifth European Tour win.
He turned in 33 with birdies on the fourth, eighth and ninth and when he hit a brilliant tee-shot into the par three tenth he was in a tie for the lead. Another birdie on the 13th again had him in a share as the battle for top spot ebbed and flowed but an excellent approach to the 15th saw him move out of the pack.
The 32 year old’s iron play had been exemplary all day and he hit 18 greens in regulation, with his approach on the penultimate hole leaving him eight feet for another birdie and a two-shot lead.
Player Quotes:
David Horsey: “It was good fun out there. The conditions were fairly benign so there was a score out there today. I managed to give myself a few chances, missed a few short ones but holed a couple of 20-footers as well so it evened itself out.
“I really like this golf course, something about it suits my eye so I come in here with good vibes again and the atmosphere coming up 16 is something else, it must be like walking out in a football stadium with 70,000 people cheering for you. I actually said to my caddie, I think I was more nervous on that putt on 16 than I was to win the tournament two years ago!
“Leading by two means I’ll just focus on myself and go out and play the same sort of golf as I have today. It would be nice to add another Made in Denmark trophy to the cabinet so we’ll see what we can do.”
Julian Suri: “I’m having a blast. Travelling round the world playing golf – especially when you are playing well! – is what I want to do so this is great. The crowds have been awesome – especially the 16th, that is something special. It just creates such an amazing stadium atmosphere. I’m from just outside Jacksonville, Florida so I see that every year at the Players’ Championship and to be able to play in that atmosphere is cool to experience first-hand.
“I just need to keep executing shots tomorrow. I think the conditions will be pretty similar so you are going to have to go out there and make some birdies. If it’s anything like today there’s going to be a lot of guys pushing to take this title and hopefully I can end the week with a trophy in my hands.”
John Daly: “It always feels good when you are still in contention on a Saturday – it’s getting harder and harder to get into those positions so I’m happy. I have been driving the ball great this week and that has been the key for me. I’m hitting a lot of fairways and when I do that I can give myself chances. I changed the grip on my putter yesterday – I’m just gripping it the way I grip any club – and it feels great. If I keep driving it well I can have a chance. Tomorrow could be a putting shoot-out.
“I love the way I am hitting the ball and the way I am putting so I’ll give it my best shot tomorrow. The crowds are amazing here. It’s wonderful to see so many people and so many kids out here who want to be involved with golf.”
Complete round three scores:
199 D Horsey (Eng) 68 67 64;
201 J Suri (USA) 67 69 65;
202 R Rock (Eng) 68 68 66; G Havret (Fra) 68 69 65; J Daly (USA) 67 70 65; C Paisley (Eng) 68 69 65;
203 M Wallace (Eng) 64 74 65; T Olesen (Den) 67 71 65; A Rai (Eng) 69 69 65; S Webster (Eng) 64 70 69; W Ormsby (Aus) 64 72 67;
204 B Hebert (Fra) 65 71 68;
205 O Lengden (Swe) 65 73 67; T Detry (Bel) 69 71 65; H Porteous (RSA) 70 67 68; B Evans (Eng) 71 68 66; M Warren (Sco) 71 64 70; N Elvira (Esp) 67 69 69; L Jensen (Den) 67 69 69; P Dunne (Irl) 67 68 70;
206 V Dubuisson (Fra) 66 71 69; S Kjeldsen (Den) 69 68 69; S Chawrasia (Ind) 67 68 71; L Bjerregaard (Den) 66 72 68; D Lipsky (USA) 66 71 69;
207 M Kaymer (Ger) 69 71 67; M Siem (Ger) 66 74 67;
208 J Walters (RSA) 71 68 69; R Finch (Eng) 71 68 69; J Hansen (Den) 66 71 71; D Im (USA) 68 73 67; E Pepperell (Eng) 71 69 68; P Widegren (Swe) 68 70 70; P Peterson (USA) 70 72 66; S Manley (Wal) 71 67 70; A Connelly (Can) 68 71 69; B Ritthammer (Ger) 68 71 69;
209 B Fritsch (Can) 71 71 67; C Pigem (Esp) 71 71 67; W Ashun (Chn) 71 65 73; B Eccles (Aus) 69 70 70; A Chesters (Eng) 69 71 69; P Waring (Eng) 66 73 70;
210 A Björk (Swe) 69 70 71; R Green (Aus) 70 70 70; J Morrison (Eng) 66 74 70; J Parry (Eng) 66 72 72; T Lewis (Eng) 67 72 71;
211 L Canter (Eng) 69 72 70; M Armitage (Eng) 73 68 70; M Søgaard (Den) 67 70 74; S Heisele (Ger) 72 70 69; E Molinari (Ita) 72 69 70; R Karlsson (Swe) 65 74 72; T Bjørn (Den) 73 68 70;
212 J Lima (Por) 71 67 74; J Dantorp (Swe) 70 70 72; K Horne (RSA) 71 70 71; O Fisher (Eng) 69 71 72; N Johansson (Swe) 68 73 71; M Pavon (Fra) 66 72 74;
213 M Ovesen (Den) 69 73 71; J Roos (RSA) 70 69 74; S Lee (Kor) 71 71 71; D Drysdale (Sco) 70 71 72;
214 J Stalter (Fra) 72 70 72; F Fritsch (Ger) 72 70 72;
215 S Khan (Eng) 72 69 74; P Gal (Cze) 71 71 73; O Wilson (Eng) 72 70 73;
216 L Cianchetti (Ita) 69 71 76; S Horsfield (Eng) 69 72 75;
