Noren heads Swedish charge in Malmo
MALMO: Sweden’s Alex Noren defied gusty conditions to card a five-under par thirdround 67 to lead the Scandinavian Masters by two shots on Saturday.
Getting the better of strong winds Noren, three shots off the pace overnight, goes in to the final round with an 11-under par total of 205.
Leading the chasing pack is Germany’s Max Kieffer who produced three birdies in the last five holes as he signed for a 70.
Home favourites were queuing up behind, with Sebastian Soderberg and Jens Dantorp in a share of third on eightunder, and world No.4 Henrik Stenson, Steven Jeppesen and Kristoffer Broberg all six-under.
Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, winner of the Irish Open last weekend, split the home contingent on seven-under after a 68.
Teenage amateur Marcus Kinhult, who had shared the overnight lead with Dantorp, fell eight shots off the pace after a 77 which included double bogeys on the 15th and 17th.
Noren, who has won three times on the European Tour, his last win coming in this event in 2011, said: “This year has been fantastic with a few good finishes and steadier play. I’m really trying to work on hitting the right shot at the right times and a day like today was a good test.
“Maybe before I was little more onedimensional in my game, just hitting a fade, but now I am trying to hit it both ways and it’s working a little bit better.
“I’m very happy to play the way I did today, especially my putting. It would be great to win this event again but there’s still another 18 holes to play.”