Forrest takes three-shot lead in Aberdeenshire

Stimpmeter · August 10, 2025, 1:00pm

Grant Forrest showed nerves of steel to fight back and open a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the Nexo Championship.

The Scot led by one at the halfway stage, but was briefly overhauled by playing partner Jordan Smith just after the turn, following a run of bogey-par-bogey from the 8th. That left him at five under, but he regained a share of the lead when Smith bogeyed the 11th, with Todd Clements and Kristoffer Reitan also joining the group at five under.

Forrest was the only player to pull clear, making three birdies in his final five holes to post an eight-under-par total at Trump International Golf Links.

Norway’s Reitan carded the day’s lowest round with a 68, England’s Clements signed for a 69 and Dutchman Daan Huizing joined them in a tie for second at five under.

“Well, there’s a long way to go tomorrow,” Forrest said. “Really happy with the way I dug in today and a lovely way to finish. It took a lot of patience, but we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

“I played nicely for the first seven holes. The bogey at the 10th actually felt like a boost because I was staring at a seven in the face. To escape with a six settled me down a little bit. I just kept giving myself chances and finally got a couple of putts to drop.

“I’m pretty happy with my game plan so far. I’ve not checked the weather, but if it’s similar conditions, it’s hit fairways and greens – that old chestnut. I’ve done that pretty well so far and stayed patient.”

Forrest opened with seven straight pars as the Aberdeenshire coastline was once again battered by wind. His lead extended to two shots before he overshot the green at the 8th and failed to make his 16-foot par putt. Another dropped shot at the 10th saw Smith jump ahead at six under after birdies at the 7th and 10th.

Smith immediately gave a shot back at the 11th, making it a three-way tie with Forrest and Clements, before Reitan joined them at five under and set the clubhouse target.

Forrest then made his decisive move at the par-four 14th, finding the target from five feet to take the solo lead at six under. He followed up with birdie putts from 16 and 20 feet at the 17th and 18th to finish with a flourish.

Reitan’s 68 included six birdies and two bogeys. Clements mixed an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys, while Huizing’s round featured five birdies, a double-bogey and a bogey.

Joe Dean, Andy Sullivan and Jacob Skov Olesen all signed for 70 to share fifth at three under. Eddie Pepperell sits eighth on two under, with Oliver Lindell, John Parry, Ryan Lumsden and Davis Bryant at one-under.

South Africa’s Richard Sterne and Justin Harding each carded a 76 to share 15th place, while James van Velzen also sits in a share of 15th after a 70.

– Edited report from DP World Tour website

Photo: Ross Parker/Getty Images

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