Bradley Neil needs to improve three places over final round in Oman EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT The European Challenge Tour season has only 18 holes to go after a tense third round at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, with as much interest in those contending for spots in the top 15 of the Road to Oman Rankings as in the top of the leaderboard. Clément Sordet leads the way at Al Mouj Golf on 13 under par, one shot clear of Oliver Lindell, while behind them many of their rivals spent Day Three playing themselves into contention for European Tour graduation tomorrow afternoon. While Sordet started the week inside the top 15 on the Road to Oman, the likes of Lindell and overnight leader Estanislao Goya – who is in third place on 11 under par – needed good weeks if they were to earn European Tour cards for 2018. Lindell is only playing this week on a special release from military service and the Finnish teenager knows only a top-two result will be enough, but a patient bogey-free 70 means he is on course for just that as things stand. . Bradley Neil, pictured above, is another who put himself back in contention today. The Scot started the week in 16th place on the Road to Oman but is 18th in the projected rankings after today. Out ahead, Sordet – all but assured of European Tour golf for next season – is looking to add a second victory of 2017 following the Frenchman’s win in the Viking Challenge. Bradley Neil quotes

“It was similar today to the first two days of play. I’m hitting the ball great tee to green but the putts haven’t really been dropping. I had a nice run on the back nine but then came into a bit of trouble on 16.

“It’s quite hard, it’s been three days of playing golf and it’s not really been in my mind but obviously you see the projected standings when you finish, but it’s changing all the time.

“I’ve still got 18 holes left and there’s a lot of guys just in front of me who I’m sure will be nervous so I’ve got nothing to lose really – I’m outside the top 15 as it stands so the pressure isn’t on me.

“The only way I’ll be nervous is if I’m having a good round with a few holes to go and I know potentially what position I’m in. It’s just another round of golf but there could be a lot of change, it’s so bunched, and who knows what might happen.

“I just need to take care of what I do and hopefully that will be enough. It’s tough to gauge what will be enough but you’ve got to play smart golf and take your chances when they come – it’s going to be a long, painful day but hopefully at the end of it I’m smiling.”

Scores after Round Three:

par 216 (3x72)

203 C Sordet (Fra) 68 67 68
204 O Lindell (Finland) 69 65 70 
205 E Goya (Arg) 67 66 72
206 T Linard (Fra) 68 67 71, S Fernandez (Spn) 69 69 68
207 M Kinhult (Swe) 68 68 71, E Van Rooyen (SAf) 70 71 66 
208 N Cullen (Australia) 67 70 71
210 G Porteous (Eng) 71 70 69, C Mivis (Belgium) 70 73 67, M Tullo (Chile) 70 71 69, A Rai (Eng) 68 71 71, P Oriol (Spn) 69 70 71
211 A Meronk (Poland) 67 69 75, B Neil (Sco) 69 72 70, J Heath (Eng) 68 71 72, D Huizing (Netherlands) 70 70 71, S Heisele (Ger) 70 68 73 
212 R Evans (Eng) 69 72 71, L Gagli (Ita) 70 72 70, J Arnoy (Norway) 71 70 71, J Guerrier (Fra) 71 72 69, J Dantorp (Swe) 70 71 71 
214 M Schwab (Austria) 71 69 74, O Lengden (Swe) 67 72 75, 
215 A Saddier (Fra) 70 76 69, R McEvoy (Eng) 71 75 69, T Murray (Eng) 70 76 69, O Farr (Wales) 68 71 76, 
216 R Sciot-Siegrist (Fra) 72 72 72, G Moynihan (Ire) 70 73 73
218 C Koepka (USA) 75 72 71
219 J Girrbach (Switz) 75 72 72
220 B Hafthorsson (Iceland) 76 73 71, V Perez (Fra) 77 73 70, G Forrest (Sco) 70 72 78, C Ford (Eng) 73 73 74 
221 N Von Dellingshausen (Ger) 71 77 73, S Brown (Eng) 75 73 73, M Ford (Eng) 79 71 71
222 J Sjöholm (Swe) 72 71 79
223 T Pulkkanen (Finland) 71 83 69
226 P Howard (Eng) 77 73 76
227 M Madsen (Den) 76 76 75 
** M Lundberg (Swe) 76 retired

                                                   

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