British Masters: Matt Wallace and Marcus Kinhult share Hillside lead
Tommy Fleetwood three off the pace at Hillside - Watch the final round live on Sky Sports Golf from 10am on Sunday
Wednesday 29 May 2019 09:47, UK
Matt Wallace and Marcus Kinhult will go into the final round of the Betfred British Masters as joint-leaders on 14 under.
The pair are two shots clear of third-placed Richie Ramsay after carding rounds of 70 and 68 respectively in bright but breezy conditions at Hillside.
Tournament-host Tommy Fleetwood is handily placed to mount a Sunday challenge on 11 under following a strong finish to his third round.
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Wallace started the day with a one-shot cushion after playing flawless golf over the opening two rounds and he briefly extended his advantage to four thanks to birdies at the first three holes.
The 29-year-old Englishman missed out on another gain after he three-putted the par-five fifth and he continued to play par golf over the next five holes as Swede Kinhult, 22, closed within one shot of him after holing from long range to eagle the 11th.
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Wallace was three in front again following a birdie at the 11th as Kinhult bogeyed the 13th, but the Londoner's bogeyless run finally came to an end when he dropped his first shot of the tournament at the 12th after finding water down the right when his drive clipped a tree.
That was Wallace's first bogey in 48 holes and he was just short of the flawless run of 49 by Francesco Molinari at the Masters.
Things got worse for Wallace at the par-four 15th where he made a double-bogey after his drive hit a spectator, with Kinhult edging one ahead thanks to birdies at the 14th, 16th and 17th which came either side of a double-bogey of his own at the 15th.
Wallace, chasing his fifth European Tour victory in two years, bounced back with a birdie at the 17th and just missed from 15 feet for another birdie at the 18th as he signed for a two-under 70, while Kinhult, who is seeking his maiden win, also parred the last for his four-under 68.
"I can't complain," said Wallace after completing his round. "I was probably going to make a bogey sooner or later but I'll take doing it for halfway round the tournament - to have no bogeys was really cool - so all good for tomorrow. I'm pretty happy with how I handled myself out there today.
"[I'm] going for it [tomorrow]. Going to play the same game-plan, try and hole some more putts. I'm close to holing a lot of putts so hopefully we can do that tomorrow."
Kinhult said: "It was tough in the wind today and I managed to post a good score so I am happy. It's a tight leaderboard still, but it's always nice to be in the lead so I will enjoy tomorrow."
Scotland's Ramsay heads the chasing pack on 12 under following a one-under 71, the highlight of which came at the par-three 16th where he was a whisker away from making a hole-in-one.
Fleetwood made a slow start with pars at the first seven holes and then followed his first birdie of the day at the eighth with back-to-back bogeys around the turn.
However, he kick-started his round with an eagle at the 11th and added birdies at the 12th, 14th and 17th to play the final eight holes in five under for a four-under 68 which left him just three off the lead.
"I've been a bit slow for two-and-a-half days so it was great to get something going and give the crowds something to cheer," the Southport-born player said.
"I never realised how the last few holes are like a natural amphitheatre and playing in front of your home fans, especially when so many have turned out, it has exceeded expectations in every way."
Robbie MacIntyre of Scotland is also on 11 under courtesy of a 68 which included four birdies over the first six holes, with Belgium's Thomas Detry (73) one further back.
Defending champion Eddie Pepperell (70) is in sole possession of seventh place on nine under, but his fellow Englishmen Ross Fisher (75) and Lee Westwood (74) dropped back to eight and six under respectively after disappointing rounds.
Watch the final round of the British Masters live on Sky Sports Golf from 10am on Sunday.
