David Law will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos as he eyes a third HotelPlanner Tour win of the season and automatic promotion to the DP World Tour.
The Scotsman mixed five birdies with a bogey to sign for a four under par 67 on moving day to reach 13 under for the week, one shot ahead of Spaniard Rocco Repetto Taylor and Austrian Lukas Nemecz.
Law, who won the D+D REAL Czech Challenge and Vierumäki Finnish Challenge supported by Finnish Golf Union earlier in the year, will earn an immediate return to the DP World Tour with a victory in Óbidos and the 34-year-old is ready to embrace the final round pressure once more.
“It definitely helps experiencing being in contention,” he said.
“Trying to win a golf tournament isn’t easy and you need to practice it. The week I won in Czech I was in contention in Austria and didn’t play very well on the Sunday which I learnt a lot from.
“Obviously I felt pressure out there today and I’ll feel pressure out there tomorrow which is great because I felt so flat all of last week.”
Law’s third round started with a birdie on the first before a bogey followed on the difficult par four second. However, the Scot closed out the front with four birdies in five holes following a gain on the fifth.
After registering nine consecutive pars on the back nine to close out his round, Law believes he’s in a good spot heading into Sunday’s final day.
“I holed a nice putt on the first and finished the front nine with a few birdies so turn at four under was nice,” he added
“I would’ve liked to have picked up a couple coming in but I’m in a good spot and I played well, even though I would’ve liked to have made a few more putts.
“I’d like to play the par fives a little bit better. I haven’t really got my tee shots away and be able to go for them in two. I think that will be important tomorrow if I can do that.”
Law’s compatriot Jack McDonald holds solo fourth on 11 under, one shot ahead of Frenchman Julien Sale, Italian Stefano Mazzoli, South African JC Ritchie and Dutchman Lars van Meijel, who share fifth position.
Spanish duo Sebastian Garcia and Quim Vidal, South African Jovan Rebula and Scot Daniel Young are all one shot further back on nine under par.
The final round of the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos gets under way at 8:00am on Sunday with Law teeing off alongside Repetto Taylor and Nemecz at 10:01am.
