Paul Waring and Thomas Aiken shared the lead heading into the final round of the Nordea Masters, but Ryder Cup hopeful Thorbjorn Olesen was hot on their heels in Gothenburg.
Englishman Waring entered a windy day three at Hills Golf Club in a share of the lead with Scotland's Scott Jamieson. However, a disappointing round of 75 left the Scot at five over par in a four-way tie for ninth position.
Waring, though ended the day where he began – his round of 69 placing him alongside South African Aiken on 12 under after a 67.
Dane Olesen was then three shots back alongside another Scot, Marc Warren, who won the first of his three European Tour titles at this event in 2006.
Waring, who was two shots ahead of Aiken at the start of the day, found himself behind after the 35-year-old birdied the second, third and fifth but was back in a share of top spot thanks to a monster putt on the 10th.
Aiken made a remarkable up-and-down for a birdie on the 12th and led by two when Waring found water on the same hole, before a hat-trick of Aiken bogeys from the 15th had the 33-year-old back in the lead.
He led by two with a birdie on the 17th but a two-shot swing on the last left the duo locked together heading into Sunday.
"I took my chances with the putter a few times, which was nice," said Waring. "Missed a couple on the way in. A bit frustrating, but overall, I would have snatched your hand off for a 69 at the start of the day.
"It'll be nice to be in that situation, last group on a Sunday, it's all you ever ask for."
Olesen overcame a double-bogey on the seventh in a 67 as he looks to overhaul Ian Poulter in the final automatic qualifying place in European captain Thomas Bjorn's team to face the United States at Le Golf National next month.
"I would love to be a couple of shots closer but it looks like I still have a chance," said Olesen. "So I'm going to go out there tomorrow and hopefully I can play like I did on the back nine and yesterday and give myself a lot of chances."
Warren carded a 66 to sit a shot ahead of German Maximilian Kieffer and two clear of England's Lee Slattery.
“It was really tough today," said Warren. "The wind got up and was swirling like it was over the first two days, so it made it even more difficult.
“One example would be trying to hit a five iron off the tee on 16 and it went 250 into the bunker. The wind changed and it went straight down wind. Just shows how much of an effect it can have, probably went about 30 yards further than we thought.
“We'll see what the weather is like, after the rain today the greens will be a bit softer. With preferred lies, if you drive the ball well you can just have a go at a few flags. If you drive it well there are a few short irons around here as well. I'll plan to be fairly aggressive, just my usual self.”
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