Knox, two off the lead, keeps  home hopes alive at Gullane

THIRD-ROUND REPORT

A late charge from Jens Dantorp saw the Swede leap ahead of a crowded leaderboard to take a one-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, the fifth Rolex Series event of the 2018 season. As a thrilling day of action drew to a close at a blustery Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian, Dantorp was in a seven-way tie for the lead before three birdies in his final three holes took him to 13 under par and one shot clear of 2015 champion Rickie Fowler of the United States, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Australian Scott Hend, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, Marcel Siem of Germany and another Swede in Alexander Björk. While Dantorp chases his first European Tour win, Russell Knox (pictured) kept hopes of a homegrown victory alive with a round of 66 to get to 11 under par alongside English pair Aaron Rai and Tyrrell Hatton. Another seven players, including 2008 Masters Tournament champion Trevor Immelman and fellow Major winner Justin Rose are one shot further back, while eight further players including American pair Charley Hoffman and Luke List are nine under par going into the final day on Scotland’s Golf Coast. Player quotes Jens Dantorp: “I didn't think the conditions were that bad in the beginning. I had a couple good chances and didn't make the putts, but I kept patient and it was nice to finish the way I did. It was a totally different course today. The wind was blowing hard and in a different direction so wasn’t the same course, really. Feels good to have kept the good momentum going. Tomorrow it will be a new experience, but really looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll stay on top.” Rickie Fowler: “It was definitely nice to come back on the back nine and get ourselves in a good spot for tomorrow. Made a few mistakes and some missed judgments early in the round. Came back nicely and felt like we made some good swings out there and a couple nice putts. Definitely a good spot and ready to go have some fun tomorrow. “Looks like we're having to have some more similar wind tomorrow, which is nice, that's how the golf course is supposed to play. The first two days, it did not exactly show its teeth. It's a good test out there today and I think tomorrow, with those conditions, it's going to be fun. It's going to, someone is going to have to go out and earn it.” Matt Fitzpatrick: “I couldn't really sort of get on with the course last week. I didn't feel like it suited my eye. I didn't hold too many putts last week, either. But this week's a lot better. I've putted way better and I feel comfortable around this golf course. It makes a big difference.” Ryan Fox: “I’m very happy. Played decent the first couple rounds. Didn't get much going, energy levels probably down from last week, which is understandable. Got a good night's sleep last night and to be fair, today looked nothing different than the first couple days. Just played the back nine a little better than I had done. Alexander Björk: “The entire course played totally different than it did yesterday. Yesterday was pretty much no wind, so played really easy. Today with the opposite wind, it played really tough. So it was a totally different course and it was fun to actually play it. I think this is the way it's normally played, what I've heard. It was nice. You want to be in the position I am and you want to be close to the lead or in the lead. You want to be in the mix and that's where I am now, so I look forward to tomorrow and hopefully I can be up there. Scott Hend: “It's always great, especially in these events on links golf courses, to be there or thereabouts. It's always great to play courses like this and produce a score which you think is better than average. Links golf is awesome. It does your head in. That's the best thing about it, it's so good. Not just boring, down the middle, do whatever. Bit off this, bit off that, try not to hit yourself out of the bunker. It's all good fun.” Russell Knox: “I played well today. I was happy. I felt good. The first few holes, I didn't hole any putts but the putter heated up like it has been for the last two weeks. Nice to see the ball go in the hole. I needed the round I had to give myself a chance for tomorrow. I felt great today. I wasn't tired. I slept like a king last night. Was able to eat breakfast and lunch before my round. I feel good today. Obviously it would be a dream come true to win this. Other than winning a major, this is right up there with the tournament you really want to win the most.” Round three scores par 210 (3x70) 197 J Dantorp (Swe) 64 65 68 198 S Hend (Australia) 66 69 63, M Siem (Ger) 66 67 65, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 68 66 64, R Fowler (USA) 64 66 68, A Björk (Swe) 67 64 67, R Fox (NZ) 67 68 63 199 A Rai (Eng) 69 63 67, T Hatton (Eng) 65 64 70, R Knox (Sco) 66 67 66 200 D Burmester (SAf) 68 67 65, J Rose (Eng) 67 66 67, E Pepperell (Eng) 67 63 70, B Stone (SAf) 70 64 66, J Lagergren (Swe) 67 69 64, T Pieters (Belgium) 68 68 64, T Immelman (SAf) 68 64 68 201 J Campillo (Spn) 69 65 67, G Fernandez - Castaño (Spn) 67 66 68, S Horsfield (Eng) 67 65 69, L List (USA) 63 69 69, G Green (Malaysia) 69 67 65, D Fichardt (RSA) 69 67 65, M Southgate (Eng) 65 70 66, S Gallacher (Sco) 70 66 65, C Hoffman (USA) 67 66 68 202 A Pavan (Ita) 70 66 66, P Oriol (Spn) 71 65 66, J Walters (SAf) 66 69 67, S Brown (Eng) 69 64 69, I Poulter (Eng) 66 67 69, H Li (China) 66 65 71, K Aphibarnrat (Thailand) 69 65 68 203 S Fernandez (Spn) 64 67 72, P Reed (USA) 65 69 69, R Rock (Eng) 64 63 76, M Pavon (Fra) 67 67 69, D Willett (Eng) 66 68 69, N Colsaerts (Belgium) 70 65 68, L Westwood (Eng) 64 67 72 204 A Levy (Fra) 68 66 70, R Sterne (SAf) 65 71 68, J Morrison (Eng) 69 65 70, D Frittelli (SAf) 65 67 72, T Jaidee (Tha) 68 65 71, R Gouveia (Portugal) 68 68 68 205 R Cho (SKor) 69 67 69, J Smith (Eng) 67 67 71, J Guerrier (Fra) 65 69 71, H Tanihara (Jpn) 72 61 72, C Syme (Sco) 71 62 72, C Bezuidenhout (SAf) 69 66 70, D Stewart (Sco) 70 64 71, C Smith (Australia) 68 68 69 206 G McDowell (NIre) 69 66 71, L Gagli (Ita) 70 66 70, O Fisher (Eng) 67 69 70, C Sordet (Fra) 66 70 70, O Farr (Wales) 69 65 72, B Hebert (Fra) 69 65 72, J Choi (SKor) 68 67 71 207 R Karlsson (Swe) 65 71 71, S Kjeldsen (Den) 66 67 74 208 J McLeary (Sco) 68 68 72 210 A Bland (Australia) 67 68 75 211 T Detry (Belgium) 70 66 75