Justin Harding and Louis Albertse share a one-stroke lead ahead of the final round of the Irish Challenge at Killeen Castle.
South African Albertse, who headed into moving day with a two-stroke advantage, remains at 12 under par following a level-par 70, whilst Harding posted a three under third round of 69 to join his compatriot on the same number.
Harding, who was three strokes adrift heading into the weekend, birdied all four par fives at Killeen Castle and dropped just one shot to set the clubhouse target.
“I played pretty well today,” he said.
“I kept it in play off the tee and gave myself a lot of chances. I’m still waiting for a day like Thursday where you pour them in and the lines jump out at you. I’m happy where I’m at.”
After playing the front nine in one under, the 40-year-old moved to two under for the day with a gain on the 12th. Pars on 13 and 14 would follow before he nearly holed out for an albatross on the 15th, with his pinpoint approach setting up a routine birdie.
Harding is still chasing his maiden HotelPlanner Tour victory and is relishing the chance to compete in Sunday’s final group.
“I feel like I’m playing better and gaining control of my golf ball," he added. "It’s nice to be in there with a shout again.
“I had a good little run in Spain when Ryan (van Velzen) won and put three good rounds together last week. It’s been a couple of rough years so it’s nice to have a chance like this. I can’t control anyone else’s golf ball, so I’ve just got to go out there and match it.”
Albertse appeared to be in control after playing his opening nine in two under and was two shots clear following a gain on the par five 15th. The 38-year-old, however, double bogeyed the 16th following an errant tee shot.
Having dropped back into a tie for the lead, the 38-year-old steadied the ship with a par on 17 but looked to be staring a bogey in the face on 18 having found the greenside bunker with his approach. Albertse, however, produced an excellent bunker shot to save par to remain in a tie at the top.
“I was super happy with how I finished,” Albertse said. “The up-and-down on 18 was great. It was probably one of the best up-and-downs I’ve made all season.
“I think us South Africans are rooting for each other this year. It was nice to play with Bryce today even though it was serious at times. Tomorrow is massive for me as we’re all getting closer to the DP World Tour cards so I’m very excited and we’ll see what happens.”
Swede Tobias Jensen Eden and South African Bryce Easton share third place on 11 under par, with French duo Robin Sciot-Siegrist and Matthieu Decottignies-Lafon, Norway’s Baard Skogen, Englishman Frank Kennedy and Spain’s Pablo Ereno one shot back on ten under.
The final round of the Irish Challenge gets under way at 7:14am with Albertse and Harding teeing off in the final group at 12:40pm.
