Benn Barham moved a step closer to his first victory on the European Tour after a third round 67 took him three shots clear in Vienna.
Englishman closing on first tour title
Benn Barham moved a step closer to his first victory on the European Tour after a third round 67 took him three shots clear heading into the final round of the Austrian Open.
The Englishman, who has led the tournament from the start following an opening round of 63, began the week 175th in the Race to Dubai and in perilous danger of losing his playing privileges.
However, the employment of a new coach appears to have worked the oracle, and, after dropping his first shots of the week with a double-bogey at the short seventh, hit back with four birdies coming home re-establish his authority on the tournament.
Barham led Richard Green by two at halfway but the Australian former winner is now four strokes back after a round of 69, with in-form Dane Soren Hansen now his closest pursuer.
Hansen, who finished third in Cologne last week, fired a flawless six-under-par 65 to put him right in contention, one ahead of left-hander Green and two clear of Louis Oosthuizen, who also came in with a 65 earlier in the day.
But there was disappointment for Scotland's Scott Drummond, who began the day just three off the lead but now finds himself eight back after a 72 that was rescued in some part by a birdie at the final hole.
"It's been a bit frustrating really, I haven't been hitting it that great and a few bad weeks and missed cuts it gets on top of you a little bit," he told Sky Sports.
"I freshened it up a bit and went to see a different coach and I'm starting to hit the ball a bit better and this is as good as I've played all year."
With Barham searching for his first success on the main tour he is sure to feel the nerves on Sunday, especially with proven winners like Hansen and Green giving chase.
"I'll just play the course really and my caddie's very good at keeping me going, so if I continue to do that I won't have to worry about them," he added.
"It's a dream to win on the tour so whether it's this week or in the future I'm looking forward to that feeling."
