Daniel Brown will take a six-shot lead into the final round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational as he goes in search of a life-changing first DP World Tour victory.
The rookie made his first appearance at the 2015 KLM Open but had to wait seven years and two months for a second start after coming through Qualifying School courtesy of six rounds in the 60s at the Final Stage.
His 67 in round three was his 11th consecutive sub-70 effort and moved him to 14 under with a commanding advantage over fellow Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick – who also signed for a 67 – and South African Wilco Nienaber, who carded a brilliant 63 in testing conditions.
Spaniard Adrian Otaegui was then at seven under, a shot clear of England’s John Parry and two ahead of countryman Angel Hidalgo and another Englishman in Eddie Pepperell.
Brown entered this week 74th on the Race to Dubai Rankings, largely thanks to starting his debut season with 13 consecutive made cuts including two top 10s.
The 28-year-old – who spent time moving between the EuroPro and European Challenge Tours after turning professional – claimed his first PGA Tour top 10 last time out at the Barbasol Championship and is now on the brink of a first DP World Tour win as he takes the largest 54-hole lead of the season into Sunday.
“Obviously, there’s still a good way to go yet,” he said. “But it’s nice to play well and keep that lead and make it a little bit more comfortable than I suppose what it might be. Still one day to go.
“I’ve driven it really well, which tends to be my strength anyway. But I’ve seen around here the rough is pretty juicy in places, so that’s been important. It’s just all seemed to fit together for the vast majority of this week.
“I’m very tired. I played two practice rounds this week, which we wouldn’t normally do over two courses. I hope I’m tired enough to get some rest.”
Brown’s six-shot overnight lead was quickly cut to five at the first as he found trees off the tee and had to play out sideways and both he and Fitzpatrick then took advantage of the short par-four 2nd, with Brown driving the green.
The lead was back to six when Fitzpatrick failed to get up and down from the sand on the 5th and a 17-foot putt on the next had Brown seven ahead, with the advantage staying at that mark when the leading duo both put approaches inside 10 feet on the 8th.
Nienaber, meanwhile, had birdied the 2nd after driving up to the green but that was his only gain on the front nine before he picked up a shot with two putts on the par-five 10th.
He then caught fire from the 12th, putting his tee-shot on the par-three to 13 feet, an approach to similar range on the next and holing a 19-footer on the 14th to sit in a share of second.
A 345-yard drive to just short of the front of the green at the par-four 15th set up another gain and he holed from 23 feet at the 16th to make it five birdies in a row and trim the lead to five.
It was down to four when Brown missed a three-footer on the 10th and Fitzpatrick joined Nienaber at eight under courtesy of a birdie after laying up at the 10th and another thanks to a 20-foot putt from the fringe on the 14th.
But Brown put an approach to two feet at the 16th and then hit a stunning second into the par-five last, getting down in two for a fifth birdie of the day.
Otaegui was level for the day after 11 holes but made four birdies in his next five to sign for a 66, while Parry made six birdies and three bogeys in a 67.
A double-bogey after finding water on the 10th halted Hidalgo’s challenge as he carded for a 70, two shots more than Pepperell who recorded five birdies and three bogeys.
England’s Tom Lewis and Scot Connor Syme were then at three under, with Indian Manu Gandas, Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Englishman Marco Penge rounding out the top 10, 12 shots off the lead.
In the women’s event, England’s Gabriella Cowley carded a 67 to lead by one at six under from American Ryann O’Toole and German Esther Henseleit.
– Report from DP World Tour website
