Kearney and O'Keeffe hit reverse in Bavaria

Andrea Pavan in action in the third round of the Bad Griesbach Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort. Picture © Getty ImagesIf you were wondering what a level par round gets you on the Challenge Tour these days, try a nine-place slide down the leaderboard.

At least, that’s what happened to Niall Kearney when he shot 72 in the third round of the Bad Griesbach Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort.

At five over par, the former South of Ireland and Brabazon Trophy winner is tied for 35th, 10 shots behind  pace-setter Andrea Pavan, who will take a one stroke lead into the final round after a Saturday 66 in Germany.

The Italian is 15 under par and a single stroke clear of France’s Victor Riu, who had led after the first two rounds, while Dutchman Daan Huizing is also handily placed a shot further back in third.

Cork’s Peter O’Keeffe, who moved up 63 places with a 66 on Friday, shot a 75 to slither 28 places to 49th on three under.

As for the leader, he overcame slippy grips to forge ahead.

“Before the round I was struggling a little with my grips, so I asked my caddie to clean them as they were a bit slippy,” Pavan said. “I struggled a little at the beginning of the round, but my wedge game was sharp, and I made a couple of good putts, which helps.

“I didn’t take too many risks off the tee, and just tried to give myself as many chances as I could, and I’m happy that I did that.

“I’ve been in this position a few times and would love to win tomorrow, but I can’t control that and I just have to go out and put it in play, hit it close, and make as many putts as I can.”

In second place is Riu, who got off to a slow start in the third round after a few problems with his putter, and an early bogey at the fourth had seen the overnight leader fall back into the pack.

The Frenchman rallied round the turn though, carding three birdies in a row from the tenth to get himself right back into contention, and pars coming in on the tricky finishing holes mean that he will start the final day a shot back of Pavan in second place.

A shot further back is Huizing, who is another man in good form after a tie for second last week at the Karnten Golf Open presented by Mazda, having only turned professional last October.

While the round of the day was reserved for England’s Kenneth Ferrie, as the two time European Tour winner carded a seven under par 65 early on Saturday morning, including a bogey at the last, to haul himself into contention at ten under par.

Scores after round 3

201 A Pavan (Ita) 68 67 66,

202 V Riu  (Fra) 63 69 70,

203 D Huizing (Ned) 66 68 69,

204 E Dubois (Fra) 69 67 68, E Johansen  (Nor) 68 66 70, M Crespi  (Ita) 69 69 66,

206 L Kennedy  (Eng) 70 67 69, K Borsheim  (Nor) 67 72 67, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 68 68 70, K Ferrie (Eng) 67 74 65,

207 J Huldahl (Den) 68 68 71, C Hanson (Eng) 65 74 68, P Relecom  (Bel) 65 72 70,

208 S Manley (Wal) 69 68 71, C Aguilar  (Esp) 69 70 69, B An (Kor) 68 69 71, L Weber (Fra) 68 69 71, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 68 71 69, R Kind (Ned) 66 71 71,

209 J Carlsson (Swe) 70 69 70, A Bernadet  (Fra) 72 69 68, A Johnston (Eng) 69 72 68, L Goddard  (Eng) 70 72 67, D Palm (Swe) 67 68 74, J Mommo  (Fin) 70 72 67, S Kannler (Ger) 67 73 69, A Gee  (Eng) 67 73 69, R Kakko  (Fin) 70 71 68, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 69 71, O Farr (Wal) 70 72 67,

210 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 68 70, F Praegant (Aut) 71 69 70, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 66 69 75, S Kim (Kor) 72 69 69,

211 N Quintarelli (Ita) 69 68 74, S Heisele (Ger) 68 72 71, M Trappel  (Aut) 69 67 75, D Stewart (Sco) 69 68 74, R Harris  (Eng) 67 72 72, R Steiner (Aut) 72 69 70, P Maddy (Eng) 71 71 69, B Hemstock (Eng) 70 71 70, J Lerchedahl (Den) 72 66 73, N Kearney (Irl) 68 71 72,

212 A Bossert (Sui) 71 70 71, M Glauert (Ger) 70 71 71, F McGuirk  (Eng) 75 66 71, N Meitinger  (Ger) 65 72 75,

213 B Ritthammer (Ger) 68 70 75, C Kim (USA) 71 71 71, W Besseling  (Ned) 72 69 72, P O’Keeffe (Irl) 72 66 75, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 70 70 73, B Hebert  (Fra) 71 71 71, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 71 68 74, N Henriques  (Por) 69 73 71, M Rominger  (Sui) 69 68 76,

214 J Legarrea (Esp) 75 66 73, P Edberg (Swe) 68 73 73, J Abbott (Eng) 67 73 74, J Elson  (Eng) 71 68 75,

215 R Russell (Sco) 73 69 73,

216 J Fahrbring (Swe) 71 70 75, Å Nilsson (Swe) 70 72 74, M Laskey  (Wal) 67 74 75,

217 D Wuensche  (Ger) 67 74 76, S Hutsby  (Eng) 71 71 75, P Archer (Eng) 70 71 76,

219 M Brier (Aut) 71 71 77,

220 J Barnes (Eng) 71 71 78