Soren Hansen began the final round of the European Open at the K Club Sunday safe in the knowledge that the early starters had not eaten into his two shot lead. Niclas Fasth immediately put the pressure on with three consecutive birdies to go ten under equalling Hansen's overnight score.
But the Dane hit back with a birdie of his own to maintain a one-shot lead. Peter Hanson, who hit a hole in one Saturday had two birdies on the first four to move a shot ahead of Richard Rock who was second overnight on eight under.
A bogey, birdie start kept him in a pack on joint third alongside the improving Peter O'Malley, Peter Hedblom and Pelle Edberg, who picked up three shots on his outward nine. Colin Montgomerie, who sounded a battle cry after a 64 Friday, was also on the march with three birdies over his first six holes.
A bogey on the seventh, though, cost him a share of third with Hanson. There were plenty of sub-par scores but the like of Alexander Noren, who hit a 64, and Ariel Canete with a 65 were too far off the pace to affect the Dane's position at the top of the leader board.