Olesen out in front in Sicily
Thorbjorn Olesen will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Sicilian Open after firing a superb 67 in blustery conditions at the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort.
The 22-year-old Dane recovered from a bogey at the sixth to sink four birdies and an eagle at the par-five 14th and move to 12 under for the tournament.
Andrew Parr and Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium are Olesen’s nearest challengers on nine under.
Canadian Parr fired five birdies in a flawless round of 67 to storm up the leaderboard.
Colsaerts’ third round was more mixed, with six birdies and three bogeys, but he completed the course in 69 to move into contention.
Lloyd Saltman heads a group of three players on eight under, the Scot also going round in 69 with birdies at the second, 11th and 13th.
Soren Kjeldsen carded a one-under 71 to join Saltman alongside Peter Lawrie, who had a second consecutive round of 72 after opening with a 64 on Thursday.
England’s Steve Webster, American Scott Pinckney and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara are a further shot behind on seven under.
Lawrie and Kjeldsen had been among a group of six players tied for the lead overnight, along with David Lynn, Jamie Donaldson, Maarten Lafeber and Pelle Edberg.
Edberg’s third round had got off to a flying start with three birdies in the opening four holes, but four successive bogeys between the sixth and ninth knocked the Swede off track.
He eventually finished the round in 75 to sit seven shots off the lead.
