PORTMARNOCK'S Conor Purcell can claim Ireland’s first Challenge Tour win in almost nine years as he heads into the final round of the Challenge de España in Cadiz just a shot of the lead.

The former Walker Cup star (24) followed an early bogey at the third with birdies at the fourth, fifth, eighth, 11th and 15th to add a four-under 68 to a brace of 72s and share second with Sweden's Jens Dantorp at Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri on four-under.

Scores

He’s just one stroke behind Spain's Victor Pastor as Ireland seeks its first individual win on the Challenge Tour since Simon Thornton won the European Tour co-sanctioned Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open in St Omer in June 2013.

"I'm very happy so far," Purcell said. "My chipping and putting has been great so far this week. "There has been plenty of wind which has led to plenty of missed greens so a hot lob wedge and putter helps the cause.
"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and giving it my best and seeing where it leaves me at the end."

Pastor (27) birdied the last for a five-under par 67 as he bids to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Santiago Tarrio, who triumphed in Cádiz last year.

"It's been an amazing round," Pastor said. "I think I played solid all day. I never really had a tough moment. I've been playing well all day, so it's good.

"It was easier today, for sure. The wind was in the same direction so I just learned from yesterday in terms of lines, so yesterday was good for me because it was hard. You have to be pretty patient, I put it in my notebook and used that knowledge today.

"I made some good shots on four, five and six, and then I played really solid during the whole round. I had my chances and I took them.

"I've been struggling all week with the tee shot on 18," he said. "I used to hit low four iron but today I hit it with more spin and the ball stopped about nine feet from the pin. I made the putt and I'm happy with it.

"The closing stretch is hard. When you're playing badly it feels worse, but when you're playing well you just need to be calm, be patient and if you make bogeys just get on with it, it can happen. I made a good par on 16, an amazing par on 17 when I chipped in--that could have been a bogey or a double--and then I finished with a birdie so it was really nice.”

Purcell, who is sharing a house this week with John Murphy and Paul Dunne before they head for Scotland together tomorrow, could not have been happier with his effort.

“It's great, I'm delighted with that today,” he said. “The first few days have been really windy and there were not many chances out there so today was nice.

“The wind dropped a lot today and I felt the course was more gettable, I feel like I know this course well enough now as I had two events on it last year too so I have played it in a lot of different winds which was a big help today.

“I plotted my way around well and took advantage when I needed to and hung onto my hat at times too, all in all, a good day.

“The course set up this week is pretty tough so you know you are going to miss a lot of greens but my short game has been the highlight of the week so far. I have been chipping and putting really well all week and not making many mistakes.

“Today I had a nice chip in on five for birdie which helps too. I can’t wait for it, the last few years have been a stop-start through Covid with limited opportunities. This is my eighth event of the season so it’s nice to give myself an opportunity to play in the final group on Sunday and try to get the juices flowing.

“Everything is trending in the right direction and I'm happy with where my game is at, it's just about going out and executing the shots tomorrow and seeing where it leaves me at the end of the day. I’m looking forward to it.”