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Nilsson tightens grip at Saint-Omer

Swede stays on course for first European Tour win

By SImon Dilger Last updated: 14th June 2008

Nilsson: On course

Saint Omer Open
Third round leaders
GB and Ire unless stated
-4 C Nilsson (Swe)
-2 R Coles
-2 F Delamontagne (Fra)
-1 N Vanhootegem (Bel)
-1 L Bond

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A solid one-under-par 70 in the third round tightened Christian Nilsson's grip at the top of the Saint-Omer Open leaderboard on Saturday.

Going into Sunday's final round the Swede has a two shot lead over Englishman Robert Coles and Francois Delamontagne, who shot 66 and 67 respectively.

Belgian Nicola Vanhootegem and Wales' Liam Bond are the only other players below par, each finishing a shot under after rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.

Nilsson, chasing his first European Tour win, parred every hole on the front nine.

The 29-year-old, who equalled the course record with a stunning seven-under 64 on Friday, then pulled away on the return, shooting back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th.

Tough putt

It was only at the 17th that his 34 hole run without dropping a shot ended but he completed his round four under going into the final round.

"I was really happy to finish like that after what happened on the 17th," he said.

"I had a long, tough putt, which I overhit and had to chip back but I needed to let it go, forget about it and I did.

"I'm feeling really good. My game from tee to green was great.

"Tomorrow is going to be a similar experience to today so hopefully I'm prepared for it."

Coles posted the day's best score and his best round of the season to end the day tied for second.

A double-bogey at the par-four 12th halted his march up the leaderboard but two more birdies on the 13th and 17th left him well placed for the final round.

"I just got on a little run," he said. "There are some tricky holes but there are some where you can hit it quite close.

"I haven't really played very well this year. I've struggled with the putter and when that was better my irons weren't great so it's been very mixed.

"But today I managed to bring it all together."