Australia’s Scott Hend is just one round from reaching the summit of the Omega European Masters at Cran-sur-Sierre in Switzerland.
But while the Queenslander has won twice already this season in Thailand and for a total of 13 victories in his pro career the 43-year old has yet to taste success in Europe.
Indeed, Hend has eight victories in Asia, three in Australia and one in the States.
He will take a one-shot lead into the final round high in the Swiss Alps after forcing his way from a shot off the lead to lead by one with a third day 65 and just clear of former winner, Sweden’s Alex Noren who posted a 66 to get to 12 under.
England’s Richard Bland is next best at 10-under par after his 69 and a shot clear of Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares, Finn Mikko Ilonen, England’s Andrew Johnston and Frenchman Romain Langasque.
Hend has enjoyed an excellent 2016 so far, winning the True Thailand Classic Presented by Chang and then representing his country at the Men’s Olympic Golf Competition.
“I played really nice golf,” he said. “I left a few shots out there but made a couple of par saves which made up for it. It was unfortunate on 18 when my ball managed to run between the bunkers down the cart path.
“One shot clear is better than none. I just want to play solid golf again and hopefully hole some more putts and see where we end up.
“Hopefully Alex and I can forge ahead and create a gap between us and the field and battle it out on the back nine.
“I should have won more. I had chances to win more but I’ve only won twice. I’m hungry to win more than twice or three times or more than four. I want to win as many times as I can.”
Noren was not in the Swedish team in Rio de Janeiro but he too has had a summer to remember, with three top tens in his last five events – including a win at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
One shot clear is better than none. I just want to play solid golf again and hopefully hole some more putts and see where we end up – Scott Hend
Hend soon hit top spot with a birdie on the tough first before joint overnight leader Langasque moved away with two birdies – highlighted by a chip-in on the fifth.
The 43 year old played a smart iron off the tee at the sixth and put an approach to eight feet to get to double figures, and when Langasque dropped a shot after getting semi-plugged in a bunker on the same hole, the gap was closed.
Hend may have reined in his power on the sixth, but he drove the green on the next and got down in two for birdie before producing a 60-foot putt from the fringe on the eighth green to get to 12 under and open up a two-shot lead.
Noren joined the group two back with a birdie on the ninth but gave it straight back on the tenth while Hend picked up a birdie to sit four ahead of the 34 year old.
The 2009 champion cut the gap to three with a birdie on the 14th and after both men took advantage of the next, Noren rolled in a 50-footer on the 17th to edge closer.
Both men were in trouble down the right off the 18th tee but Noren made his par while Hend bogeyed to leave things finely poised.
