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Shinkwin nudges ahead at KLM Open
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Shinkwin nudges ahead at KLM Open

Callum Shinkwin edged in front of a busy leaderboard at the turn of the third round in the KLM Open.

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The Englishman was paired with 2017 Masters Tournament champion Sergio Garcia in the penultimate group of the day - starting moving day two shots behind halfway leader Scott Jamieson - but Shinkwin showed nerves of steel to top the leaderboard at The International.

Garcia and Shinkwin were going stride for stride as they duo carded three birdies apiece in their opening eight holes to lead by one at 12 under par, but the Englishman jumped ahead on his own when he holed out a bunker shot for birdie at the ninth.

Garcia was alone in second at 12 under, while James Morrison was one shot further adrift alongside a flying Matt Wallace.

Wallace set the clubhouse target courtesy of a course record 63 to jump from two under to 11 under par in ideal morning conditions.

Another Englishman, Matthew Southgate, was at ten under for sole fifth as Jamieson’s title challenge faded as he carded four over after nine holes to drop to seven under.

Garcia made an early move with a birdie at the opening hole to get up to ten under, with Morrison following suit in the final group to sit one behind playing partner Jamieson.

Morrison picked up another shot at the second to join the Scot at the summit but a wild tee shot from the Englishman and a penalty drop by Jamieson at the third let the field back in.

Morrison could only card a bogey - with Jamieson recording a double bogey - to sit one adrift of clubhouse leader Wallace alongside Garcia and Shinkwin, who birdied the second, at ten under.

Southgate birdied the fourth to get to that mark, but another at the next sent him into the lead, however, he was soon joined by some of his rivals.

Morrison hit back from his dropped shot to birdie the fourth, as did Shinkwin, before Garcia picked up a shot at the fifth to make it a five way tie for the lead at 11 under.

Garcia and Shinkwin moved one ahead with birdies at the sixth, with Southgate missing the chance to join them with a close putt at the eighth.

Morrison made a great par save at the seven after finding the greenside bunker, and joined the group ahead at 12 under following a superb approach at the eighth.

However, as Morrison holed his four foot putt at the eighth, Shinkwin produced a stunning bunker shot of his own to card an unlikely birdie and become the first player to reach 13 under.

Morrison was alongside Garcia for just one hole as he bogeyed the ninth, which Southgate also did at the tenth to drop to ten under.

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