<p>Conor Purcell Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane</p>
PORTMARNOCK'S Conor Purcell can claim Ireland’s first Challenge Tour win in almost nine years as he heads into the final round of the Challenge de España in Cadiz just a shot of the lead.
The former Walker Cup star (24) followed an early bogey at the third with birdies at the fourth, fifth, eighth, 11th and 15th to add a four-under 68 to a brace of 72s and share second with Sweden's Jens Danthorp at Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri on four-under.
He’s just one stroke behind Spain's Victor Pastor as Ireland seeks its first individual win on the Challenge Tour since Simon Thornton won the European Tour co-sanctioned Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open in St Omer in June 2013.
"I'm very happy so far," Purcell said. "My chipping and putting has been great so far this week. "There has been plenty of wind which has led to plenty of missed greens so a hot lob wedge and putter helps the cause.
"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and giving it my best and seeing where it leaves me at the end."
Pastor (27) birdied the last for a five-under par 67 as he bids to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Santiago Tarrio, who triumphed in Cádiz last year.
"It's been an amazing round," Pastor said. "I think I played solid all day. I never really had a tough moment. I've been playing well all day, so it's good.
"It was easier today, for sure. The wind was in the same direction so I just learned from yesterday in terms of lines, so yesterday was good for me because it was hard. You have to be pretty patient, I put it in my notebook and used that knowledge today.
"I made some good shots on four, five and six, and then I played really solid during the whole round. I had my chances and I took them.
"I've been struggling all week with the tee shot on 18," he said. "I used to hit low four iron but today I hit it with more spin and the ball stopped about nine feet from the pin. I made the putt and I'm happy with it.
"The closing stretch is hard. When you're playing badly it feels worse, but when you're playing well you just need to be calm, be patient and if you make bogeys just get on with it, it can happen. I made a good par on 16, an amazing par on 17 when I chipped in--that could have been a bogey or a double--and then I finished with a birdie so it was really nice.”
Article Link: Purcell seeks Ireland's first Challenge Tour win for nearly nine years - News - Irish Golf Desk