Cloud of nine doesn't dampen Sharvin's spirits

Aaron Rai. Picture: Ota Mràkota/Relemost

Cormac Sharvin bounced back from a triple bogey nine to go into the final round just two shots off the lead in the D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge.

The Ardglass talent opened with a bogey but then stormed into the lead on 13 under before taking a nine at the 783-yard 15th at Penati Golf Resort.

He recovered well with a birdie two at the 16th and parred the last two holes for a one under 71 that leaves him tied for fifth and just two strokes behind England’s Aaron Rai, Scotland’s Scott Henry and Frenchman Romain Langasque on 11 under par.

Rai and Langasque sbot 69s and Henry  a 70 to lead by one on 13 under from Damien Perrier of France.

Langasque memorably took second place in the season-opening Barclays Kenya Open as an amateur, before competing in the Masters Tournament as reigning Amateur Champion.

Now in paid ranks, the Frenchman has maintained relentlessly good form this season, adding two more top five finishes and not missing a cut in his 11 events so far.

The 21 year old mixed seven birdies with four bogeys in his third round, and he will be looking for a maiden professional victory to move up from his current position of seventh in the Road to Oman Rankings.

Henry led for much of the day, early birdies moving him clear of the chasing pack, before dropped shots on the 15th and the 17th left the Scot tied at the top.

Sharvin is tied with James Heath and Pedro Oriol with Kevin Phelan (72) tied 34th on six under, one ahead of Ruaidhri McGee, who shot 75. 

Overnight leader Espen Kofstad’s hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games with a top two finish suffered a major setback as the Norwegian shot a three over par 75 to end the day four shots behind the leaders.

Scores after round  3:

203 A Rai (Eng) 70 64 69, S Henry  (Sco) 68 65 70, R Langasque  (Fra) 66 68 69,

204 D Perrier (Fra) 68 68 68,

205 J Heath (Eng) 71 65 69, P Oriol (Esp) 67 70 68, Cormac Sharvin (Nir) 70 64 71, 

206 M Pavon (Fra) 67 69 70, T Pulkkanen (Fin) 71 67 68, R Fox (Nzl) 65 69 72, S Jeppesen (Swe) 68 69 69, 

207 O Farr (Wal) 69 69 69, M Orrin (Eng) 68 68 71, E Kofstad (Nor) 67 65 75, K Johannessen (Nor) 71 69 67, K Samooja (Fin) 73 67 67, J Loughrey (Eng) 72 65 70, L Gagli (Ita) 70 68 69, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 70 68,

208 T Detry  (Bel) 69 70 69, B Stow (Eng) 75 63 70, G Piris Mateu (Esp) 70 71 67, D Wright (Eng) 71 68 69, E Goya (Arg) 71 66 71, S Tiley (Eng) 69 67 72, F Fritsch (Ger) 69 67 72, A Björk (Swe) 70 71 67,

209 M Delpodio (Ita) 68 73 68, D Gaunt (Aus) 70 68 71, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 68 71 70, M Søgaard (Den) 70 71 68, D Law (Sco) 69 70 70, J Smith (Eng) 70 68 71,

210 A Chesters  (Eng) 70 68 72, S Forsstrom (Swe) 69 69 72, O Stark (Swe) 72 67 71, N Ravano (Ita) 69 71 70, S Brown (Eng) 70 69 71, Kevin Phelan (Irl) 70 68 72,

211 A Tadini (Ita) 71 68 72, Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 67 69 75, M Keskari (Ger) 72 68 71, D Jennevret (Swe) 68 69 74, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 69 69 73, P Maddy (Eng) 73 67 71,

212 J Cafourek (Cze) 76 65 71, S Hutsby  (Eng) 70 71 71, M Kinhult (Swe) 72 66 74, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 71 68 73, 

213 B Paolini (USA) 74 66 73, J White (Eng) 69 72 72, M Wiegele  (Aut) 70 70 73, 

214 J Robinson (Eng) 70 68 76, P Mejow (Ger) 71 67 76, D Van Driel (Ned) 69 69 76, J Gonnet (Fra) 71 69 74, A Knappe (Ger) 69 72 73, 

215 C Blomstrand (Swe) 68 72 75, D Papadatos (Aus) 69 70 76, C Ford (Eng) 71 70 74, C Koerbler (Aut) 71 69 75, 

216 G Porteous (Eng) 73 68 75, 

217 F Calmels (Fra) 69 70 78.