Scott Hend moved into pole position for a second European Tour title of the season after the Australian edged a shot clear at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, courtesy of a five under par 65.
The 43 year old, winner of the True Thailand Classic Presented by Chang last March, was at one point three shots ahead after he opened with a birdie three at the challenging first hole, before three consecutive birdies from the sixth took him to the turn in four under.
He picked up two more shots at the tenth and 15th but a bogey at the last left him on a 13 under total, with Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Champion Alex Noren just one back after the Swede signed for a four under par 66 and a 12 under total.
Englishman Richard Bland was two shots further back on ten under par after a one under 69, while his compatriot Andrew Johnston (68), Finland’s Mikko Ilonen (68), Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares (68) and Frenchman Romain Langasque (68) were all a shot further back on nine under par.
Scott Hend
“I played really nice golf. I left a few shots out there but made a couple of par saves which made up for it. It was unfortunate on 18 when my ball managed to run between the bunkers down the cart path. It is a tough driving hole and I didn’t get it into the spot I wanted to.
“One shot clear is better than none. I just want to play solid golf again and hopefully hole some more putts and see where we ended up. Hopefully Alex (Noren) and I can forge ahead and create a gap between us and the field and battle it out on the back nine.
“The weather is awesome and the crowds are always great here in the weekend. I should have won more. I had chances to win more but I’ve only won twice. I’m hungry to win more than twice or three times or more than four.
“I want to win as many times as I can. You have to get into position to win all the time and if it comes a point when you can’t win so be it. I enjoy the occasion and that’s why I play golf for.
Alex Noren
“I had some very good fortune on 18. I didn’t hit the very best of tee shots and I was down the right. I tried to hit way past the pin but my caddie thought I needed one more club and I thought it was enough with what I hit. It just bounced over the ditch.
“It was a good day, a little bit tougher playing in the afternoon here. It’s a little bit drier and bouncy and Hend was playing really well from the start, making birdies, and he was four under through nine. I was just trying to hang in there and finish up with some good birdies.
“You’re just trying to stay in contact and he was playing great, it’s also easier to play with someone who’s playing good.”
Richard Bland
“I just leaked my tee shot right a little on the last and you’ve probably got about five yards to hit it in there – it was in the right hand trap, 90 yards over water and I would have taken it in the grandstand to be fair.
“I hit it a bit heavy and you think it’s going for a swim straight away. Fortunately it got a good bounce over the water and I managed to two-putt and get out of there so it was a good slice of luck.
“I didn’t feel like I had my game with me today. I holed a couple of putts early on. I was just fighting it all day ad to be fair I felt that a little yesterday. I actually hit it better on Thursday. I was just fighting it today and didn’t have my game with me.
“Around here sometimes you have to be ultra aggressive if you’re going to hit it close but I didn’t have the confidence to do that today so I’m going to try and hit some balls to get the rhythm back and take that out on the course tomorrow.
“Hendy is three in front of me and Alex is a couple aead so they’re not going to come back to me, I’m going to have to go and get them and play well, as aggressively as I can.”
Andrew Johnston
“If you par the first few holes here it’s not a bad start and I didn’t take advantage of it in the next three after that, which was a bit frustrating. I made a good birdie on 11 and didn’t take advantage of the par fives so it was a bit frustrating.
“I just have to keep playing it the same way now. You’re going to get chances, if I hit my wedges a bit better and putt better, hopefully I’ll make a few more birdies.”
Romain Langasque
“That was not easy for me today. I started really well but I made a little mistake on the sixth with the distance, so it was a bad bogey. Then I continued well and my putting was really good, that’s why I shot level par.
“But my game was not good, that’s golf. I will do my best tomorrow, but on the 16th tee I found the key and I hit some good shots to finish so that could be good tomorrow.
“Today I was a little bit nervous because there were a lot of people around but that’s what I want to have every week, I’m working for that. I will have some pressure but I will do my best, take my chance and try to win this tournament.”
Scott Hend of Australia plays his second shot on the 12th hole during the third round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club on September 3, 2016 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2016, the European Tour International Schedule features 47 tournaments in 27 countries, all part of the Race to Dubai, the year-long competition which crowns the European Tour Number One at the end of the season, a title claimed in 2015 by Rory McIlroy for the third time.
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