Stenson and Pepperell top packed leaderboard in Sweden
Henrik Stenson © Getty Images
Michael Hoey and Kevin Phelan are the best of the Irish but all eyes will be on Henrik Stenson on Sunday as he goes into the final round of the Nordea Masters tied for the lead with up and coming Englishman Eddie Pepperell.
Stenson delighted the home fans with a brilliant third round of 64 before being joined at the front by Pepperell on 13 under par, one stroke ahead of Stephen Gallacher (65) and Alvaro Quiros (66) at PGA Sweden National.
World No 2 Stenson posted seven birdies and a spectacular eagle at the par-four seventh hole, where he holed his eight iron approach shot from 155 yards.
After dropping his only shot of the day on the 15th, the Swede birdied the last two holes a to set the clubhouse target of 13 under par, which was matched moments later by the overnight co-leader Pepperell, who signed for a 65.
Pepperell opened his round with three consecutive birdies, then picked up further shots on the 11th and 12th holes before another hat-trick of gains from the 14th to take the outright lead. However, a bogey on the 17th hole means he will start the final round level with European Number One Stenson.
Frenchman Victor Dubuisson is just two shots adrift on 11 under par following a 67 but Ireland's hopefuls are well back.
Hoey's 69 left him 10 shots off the lead, tied for 32 on three under with Phelan a shot further back thanks to an eagle three at the 18th that gave him a 73.
Nice way to end a tough round today! 👌
— Kevin Phelan (@KPhelanDeise) May 31, 2014Shane Lowry had four birdie and four bogeys in a 72 that left him tied 54th on level par with Gareth Maybin, who signed for a 74.
Dubliner Peter Lawrie, 210th in the Race to Dubai, also shot 72 to remain on one over and tied for 62nd.
Stenson said: "The crowds have been great. I haven’t played in front of home crowds for a while and with the success I’ve had I really feel the support. I’m going to enjoy tomorrow and try to be up there tomorrow with nine to go and try to win this tournament for them.
“It would be great to do it. I’ve not won in Sweden before and obviously I would like to do that in my career. It seems like I’m going to have a chance tomorrow, but there is a long way to go and a lot of good players up there. I’m sure I need to stick to my play and be there when it really matters tomorrow.”
As for Pepperell, who shot a 65, he knows he can't afford to start watching what Stenson is doing.
Michael Hoey watches a putt slip past the edge on the 10th. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie
“Henrik is tied with me so it is going to be a great day tomorrow, but I’ve just keep to keep focused on my game and do what I’ve been doing," he said. "If I do that I’ll have a shot come the last and I’ll enjoy it.
“Henrik is one of the best players in the world, he’s in fine form and it is his home country. I couldn’t ask for much more really from a final round. It’s going to be really exciting for me and I’ve got to make it exciting for him.”
Nordea Masters at PGA Sweden National (par 72)
203 E Pepperell (Eng) 66 72 65, H Stenson (Swe) 69 70 64,
204 A Quiros (Esp) 71 67 66, S Gallacher (Sco) 67 72 65,
205 V Dubuisson (Fra) 69 69 67,
206 B Dredge (Wal) 69 70 67,
207 T Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 68, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 68 72 67, R Wattel (Fra) 71 70 66,
208 R Derksen (Ned) 70 71 67, C Doak (Sco) 70 69 69,
209 J Morrison (Eng) 70 73 66, T Björn (Den) 70 71 68,
210 J Dantorp (Swe) 66 73 71, T Pieters (Bel) 73 69 68, D Howell (Eng) 73 70 67, P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 72 68, R Karlberg (Swe) 67 75 68, T Lewis (Eng) 71 71 68,
211 E Dubois (Fra) 70 73 68, S Dyson (Eng) 69 72 70, M Kieffer (Ger) 70 74 67, R Jacquelin (Fra) 72 70 69, N Fasth (Swe) 71 70 70,
212 K Broberg (Swe) 70 74 68, J Doherty (Sco) 70 74 68, R Karlsson (Swe) 70 70 72, D Fichardt (RSA) 73 71 68, M Ilonen (Fin) 70 71 71, N Elvira (Esp) 73 71 68, M Kinhult (am) (Swe) 71 72 69,
213 M Hoey (Nir) 69 75 69, J Quesne (Fra) 72 71 70, E Molinari (Ita) 71 69 73, O Fisher (Eng) 69 75 69, P Hanson (Swe) 69 71 73, C Lee (Sco) 68 74 71,
214 J Campillo (Esp) 68 76 70, P Waring (Eng) 68 76 70, J Kingston (RSA) 72 70 72, J Lima (Por) 71 74 69, K Phelan (Irl) 71 70 73, S Jamieson (Sco) 69 72 73, E De La Riva (Esp) 72 72 70, M Manassero (Ita) 74 70 70,
215 S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 75 70, J Singh (Ind) 71 74 70, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 74 72, R Ramsay (Sco) 72 72 71, G Havret (Fra) 71 74 70, D Huizing (Ned) 67 78 70, L Bjerregaard (Den) 70 75 70, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 75 70,
216 J Carlsson (Swe) 68 77 71, G Maybin (Nir) 67 75 74, E Grillo (Arg) 73 72 71, M Lundberg (Swe) 69 75 72, S Kapur (Ind) 76 68 72, A Pavan (Ita) 74 71 71, S Lowry (Irl) 71 73 72, A Levy (Fra) 72 73 71,
217 R Green (Aus) 72 69 76, P Lawrie (Irl) 75 70 72, M Baldwin (Eng) 71 73 73, S Soderberg (Swe) 67 76 74, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 73 75, M Jiménez (Esp) 69 73 75,
218 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 74 70 74, D Im (USA) 72 72 74, F Calmels (Fra) 73 70 75,
219 A Gee (Eng) 68 75 76, B Åkesson (Swe) 71 73 75,
220 S Manley (Wal) 69 74 77.
