Lewis hot on the heels of wizard from Oz Lucas
Lucas Herbert carded an excellent round of 64 to open up a two-shot lead over England’s Tom Lewis on day three of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura.
Oliver Fisher had made history in round two as he carded the first ever 59 on the European Tour and an unlikely eagle on the par four last would have handed Lewis the second on another low-scoring day.
A closing par saw Lewis sign for a 61 and a 17-underpar total behind Australian Herbert, who is playing off invites this season as he looks to earn his full playing privileges on tour. Lewis won this event in just his third start as a professional in 2011 and recorded a victory on the second-tier Challenge Tour just two weeks ago, although he looked unlikely to contend this week after an opening 72.
The 27-year-old has birdied 18 of his 36 holes since, including 10 in round three, and he admitted the thought of another 59 had crept into his mind.
“It’s something that I noticed with three holes to go,” he said. “I wasn’t that bothered at the end of the day. I’m pleased that I shot 10 under par and put myself in there tomorrow. I can only continue to make birdies and see what happens tomorrow.”
Herbert made eight birdies and a single bogey to get to 19-under, with England’s Eddie Pepperell and Swede Marcus Kinhult four shots off the lead.
The Aussie who is playing off invites this season but has a great chance to earn his playing privileges, sitting 103rd in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex after four top tens.
“I think this week is as close to the A-game as we get,” he said.
“I’ve some good confidence going into tomorrow and hopefully that form sticks around.
“I just need to get out of my own way tomorrow, to be honest. I’ve played really good up until this point.
“I don’t really need to do anything different or special, just stick to the processes, keep picking the right shots and doing a good job with all of that. That’s all I can control.”
Fisher was then in the group at 14-under after taking 10 more shots than his historic effort on Friday. Controversial Ryder Cup wildcard pick Sergio Garcia is 10 shots off the lead in a tie for 27th, while fellow European team member, Denmark’s Thorbjorn Oleson, is a shot further back on eight-under-par.