Grant Forrest will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Nexo Championship after finishing with back-to-back birdies at Trump International Golf Links.
Related: Grant Forrest goes low with course record at Aberdeen
The Scot, who entered the third round with a one-shot advantage, carded a one under par round of 71 to move to eight under par and three ahead of England’s Todd Clements, Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan and Dutchman Daan Huizing.
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The 32-year-old’s first DP World Tour victory arrived on home soil at the 2021 Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews, and he is hoping to double his tally in front of his home crowd in Aberdeen tomorrow.
Forrest parred his first seven holes but found himself overhauled by playing partner Jordan Smith just after the turn following a run of bogey-par-bogey from the eighth.
That left him at five under, however, he returned to the summit alongside Smith, who bogeyed the 11th, with Clements and Reitan also climbing into a share of the lead.
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Forrest remained patient and took the solo lead with a birdie at the 14th to move to six under, before his putter got hot with efforts from 16 and 20 feet respectively for a birdie-birdie finish and an eight under par total.
English pair Joe Dean and Andy Sullivan, and Dane Jacob Skov Olesen all carded a two under par 70 to sit in a share of fifth place on three under.
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Eddie Pepperell is in solo eighth at two under par, while Finn Oliver Lindell, Englishman John Parry, Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden and American Davis Bryant are a shot further back in ninth.
Player Quotes
Grant Forrest: There’s a long way to go but I’m happy with the way I dug in today and it was a great way to finish. Let’s see what tomorrow brings. I played nicely for the first seven holes but made a couple of bogeys on eight and ten. I was lucky to escape with a six on ten and then I settled down a little bit.
I’m pretty happy with my gameplan so far and if it’s similar conditions it will just be about getting it in play off the tee and hitting greens and remain patient. I’ve only led once before, and I ended up winning. There’s a long way to go, especially on this golf course, and I’m just going to take it one shot at a time.
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It’s nice to have my family here and I think there will be some more coming down tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it and it’s great to have baby Spencer here. I’ve loved spending time with my family at home.
Daan Huizing: Anything under par in these conditions is very good. If you make a mistake, it’s important to accept it and move on and that has worked very well for me. I must keep reminding myself that I’m playing well and I can bounce back with birdies.
I hit an incredible shot on 17 and when I was stood over my approach I pictured the shot in my head and it came out exactly how I wanted. To make the putt and walk away with birdie after my tee shot was a great feeling.
