Andrea Pavan joined Tommy Fleetwood at the top of the leaderboard on the third day of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, as four birdies in the opening seven holes meant there was another twist in the enthralling tale of the Challenge Tour’s season finale.
The Italian, who is sponsored by the San Domenico Golf course on which they are battling it out this week, moved to 15 under for the tournament through seven holes thanks to birdies on the second, fourth, fifth and seventh holes.
Overnight leader Tommy Fleetwood, straight from a spectacular ten under par round of the 61 on the second day, was not doing much wrong with a single birdie at the third and six pars, but could not hold off his Italian playing partner.
It was turning into a two horse race at the Mediterranean links course on the Adriatic coast of Italy, as the 20 year old Fleetwood and 22 year old Pavan, who both claimed their maiden professional wins on the Challenge Tour this year, pulled four shots clear of the rest.
Julien Guerrier, who was joint leader after the first day, was one under through eight holes and 11 under for the tournament, in second place.
There were three players tied for fourth place on ten under par: Victor Rui, Chris Lloyd and Andrew Marshall, who carded a hole in one on the eighth hole.
Challenge Tour Rankings leader, Sam Little, was tied for 23rdplace just past the halfway point of his round on seven under for the tournament after negotiating the first 10 holes on level par.
