Classy Butterfield six shots clear and

heading for first Challenge Tour win

From Paul Symes, European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Andrew Butterfield is within sight of his maiden Challenge Tour title after opening up a six- stroke lead on day three of The Princess tournament in Sweden.
Another sumptuous display of stroke-play – Butterfield carded four birdies and not a single bogey in his round of 67 – moved the Englishman to 15 under par, with Finland’s Antti Ahokas his nearest challenger on nine under par.
The 36 year old, who recently became a father for the first time, has three runner-up finishes to his name – at the Russian Open and Challenge de France in 2005, and the Dutch Challenge in 1997.
But having seen most of his rivals falter over the final holes at Båstad GK in Båstad, Sweden, Butterfield believes he may never have a better chance of banishing his bridesmaid tag and collecting the €48,000 first prize.
He said: “It’s a big week, and it’s going to be a big day tomorrow. Obviously I’ll be doing my utmost to win. I’ve been playing well all season, and I’ve taken my game up another level here this week. I’ve been chipping and putting better than I’ve ever done, and that obviously breeds confidence. If I can hold it together tomorrow, I’ll have a great chance.
“There were a fair few people out following us today, and hopefully there will be a few more tomorrow. It’s always nice to play in front of a crowd, and hopefully I can put on a show for them. I’m really looking forward to it.
"I’ll probably be a little bit nervous, but that’s why we play the game, for days like these. I’d certainly rather be going out in the last group at mid-day than the first one at 6.30am!”
Butterfield will be joined in the final group by Ahokas, who signed for a round of 69 which had at one point threatened to explode into life.
Five birdies in his opening 12 holes had temporarily moved Ahokas to within one shot of Butterfield’s lead, but two dropped shots in his closing five holes saw the Finn drop back to nine under par.
Germany’s Christoph Günther, who won in Austria earlier this season, is in third place on eight under par after signing for a round of 69.
Earlier in the day, Gunther’s compatriot Dennis Kupper and his playing partner Richard McEvoy both recorded their first aces in tournament play, just two holes apart.
Kupper’s came at the tenth hole, before McEvoy repeated the feat at the 12th to earn his own bottle of champagne.
THIRD ROUND
Par 216 (3x72)
198 A Butterfield (Eng) 62 69 67
204 A Ahokas (Fin) 68 68 68
205 C Günther (Ger) 67 69 69
206 C Rodiles (Esp) 66 69 71, S Bebb (Wal) 65 71 70, R McEvoy (Eng) 70 67 69, R Steiner (Aut) 67 69 70, S Thornton (Irl) 72 66 68, J Lima (Por) 68 67 71, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 65 67 74, J Dantorp (Swe) 71 68 67
207 T Carolan (Aus) 66 72 69, N Meitinger (Ger) 70 70 67, D Küpper (Ger) 68 70 69
208 G Murray (Sco) 71 68 69, C Moriarty (Irl) 72 67 69, L Saltman (Sco) 69 70 69, R Coles (Eng) 66 70 72, A McArthur (Sco) 68 71 69
209 Z Scotland (Eng) 67 68 74, J Granberg (Fin) 71 67 71, L James (Eng) 70 71 68, J Guerrier (Fra) 69 71 69, M Rominger (Sui) 69 72 68
210 G Houston (Wal) 69 70 71, L Bond (Wal) 66 71 73, U Van Den Berg (RSA) 66 70 74, M Jurgensen (Den) 73 69 68, J Abbate (Arg) 68 72 70
211 R Santos (Por) 73 69 69, C Suneson (Esp) 68 74 69, B Evans (Eng) 69 72 70, A Sjöstrand (Swe) 67 73 71, P Kaensche (Nor) 70 72 69, M Wiegele (Aut) 69 73 69, M Laskey (Wal) 72 69 70
212 J Colomo (Esp) 70 72 70, J Morrison (Eng) 70 70 72, P Baker (Eng) 73 68 71, R Muntz (Ned) 72 70 70, P Gustafsson (Swe) 69 72 71
213 E Molinari (Ita) 71 71 71, A Hansen (Den) 73 69 71, T Whitehouse (Eng) 69 70 74, F Calmels (Fra) 69 73 71, S Tiley (Eng) 71 69 73, M Cort (Eng) 70 71 72, A Marshall (Eng) 71 69 73, S Surry (Eng) 68 74 71,
214 A Tampion (Aus) 69 71 74, O Suhr (Den) 67 72 75, A Högberg (Swe) 70 71 73, P Barth (Swe) 66 75 73, C Carranza (Arg) 69 73 72, S Walker (Eng) 72 68 74
215 J Grillon (Fra) 70 71 74, N Colsaerts (Bel) 72 69 74, P Whiteford (Sco) 71 70 74
216 P Bocian (Swe) 69 73 74, N Lemke (Swe) 68 74 74
217 V Riu (Fra) 73 69 75, A Rocha (Bra) 71 69 77, L Brovold (Nor) 71 70 76
219 R Hie (Ina) 69 71 79
Disqualified - J Clément (Sui) 69 73 disq