Scotland’s Calum Hill is quietly confident of a double delight with victory in the Canary Islands Championship in Tenerife.
Hill, 26, birdied the closing hole for a third day running in a round of 66 to move to 17-under par to be in third place and just three shots off the lead on the spectacular clifftop Costa Ajele course.
In-form South African Garrick Higgo, and winner of the last fortnight’s Tour event on Gran Canaria, snatched two eagles and also birdied his closing four holes in a seven-under par 64 to lead by two shots on 20-under par.
Scotland’s Calum Hill just three shots off the lead heading to the final round of the Canary Islands Championship
England’s Richard Mansell, and also with a 64, is in second place at 18-under par and with Hill a shot further back.
Hill produced a bogey-free round that included birdies the five par-5s – the first, third, 11th, 13th and the last.
In fact, the Crook of Devon golfer is 15-under par over the three rounds on the par-5s.
He said: “It was important to stay patient as the pin positions were in difficult spots and I’m sure they’ll be tricky again tomorrow.
“I think someone is going to have to go very low tomorrow to win and in order for me to win I’ll need a bit of help for Garrick (Higgo)”.
Hill is not only targeting a first Tour victory in his 33rd Tour event but with success sending him to next fortnight’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.
Hill teed-up at the current World No. 139 and with a maiden victory toast set to see him jump to around 86th on the rankings, and with the top-100 tomorrow morning (MON) set to tee-up in the year’s second major.
He said: “The US PGA Championship has been the goal for the past three events and unfortunately I’ve not put myself in a position to qualify until this week so it’s going to require a good round tomorrow.
“That’s the only goal in mind at the moment.
“It’s great to see the Scottish going well. It seems like we are trying to keep up with the South Africans. When you get a group of guys all pushing one another on it helps spur you on.”
If Hill is successful in capturing the event he would join Robert MacIntyre and Denver-based Martin Laird on Kiawah Island.
Fellow Scots Richie Ramsay and Connor Syme, who had been tied with Hill after two rounds on 12-under par, struggled with level par 71s to drop back to a share of 18th place.
And Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest signed for a 68 to be just outside the top-30 at 10-under par.
