England’s Chris Wood picked up five shots in his first five holes to charge into contention for a first European Tour title during the final round of the Sicilian Open.

The 24 year old, with two runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes in his fledgling European Tour career – including one at The Open Championship –parred the first but then carded three birdies and an eagle at the par five fourth.

At 11 under par Wood was just one behind overnight leader Thorbjørn Olesen, who recovered from a bogey at the first with a birdie at the next to be level par through three holes.

The 22 year old Dane started the day with a three shot lead as he too looks for his maiden European Tour victory.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry – who won the Irish Open as an amateur – had five birdies in his first ten holes to advance to ten under and third place, alongside England’s Anthony Wall, who was six under for his round through 12 holes.

In conditions much more akin to good scoring than Saturday’s blustery affair, Wood gained further shots at the seventh and 11th.

He was still one behind Olesen, however, who birdied three holes out of four either side of a bogey at the fifth.

Lowry was two behind on 12 under, but the Irishman only had three holes left to play, with Wall an José Manuel Lara a shot further back. 

Wood caught Olesen with a mid-ranbge birdie putt at the 12th, but at that stage he had played five holes more than the Dane.