Day three digest: Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood

Everything you need to know from day three at Close House Golf Club.

Paratore held firm, #GolfForGood lived up to its name, Horsfield made a big move and putters were not required on day three of the 2020 Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday at Close House Golf Club.

Paratore stays perfect

54 holes and no bogeys - it's like Renato Paratore has never been away. All of the field could be forgiven for being rusty following the long hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic but the Italian has taken no time getting back into his stride. It appears a little practice in the sunshine hasn't done him any harm either, and a closing birdie moved him to 16 under and into a one shot lead with 18 holes to play. "Fortunately I live in Dubai with my friend who is also on the European Tour and we played a lot of competitive rounds with each other after lockdown," he said. "I think this helped me to stay competitive."

Rasmus feeling the heat

After becoming the third youngest winner in European Tour history earlier this season, Rasmus Højgaard is just two shots back and looking for a second title at the age of 19. The Dane appears to have taken everything in his stride in his short career so far but he admits there will be some butterflies on the first tee on Saturday. Having a Masters Tournament winning caddie in Jonathan Smart might help. "I think it’s going to be good, Jonathan can hopefully keep me calm out there and take the right decisions," he said. "I’m probably going to be a bit nervous tomorrow after such a long break but I’ve got to just keep patient and calm like what I did in the first three days and hopefully that will be enough in the end. I think I can take a few things from my last win. The last time I stayed patient and stayed calm. I didn’t rush anything and didn’t try to force anything so that will be my plan tomorrow if I’m in contention going down the stretch."

Horsfield gallops into contention

Sam Horsfield carded his first 59 at the age of 13 and he followed it with another in May playing with friends in Orlando. That should tell you the Englishman knows a thing or two about going low and if he had made a fourth eagle of the day on the last on Friday, he would have had a hat-trick of magic numbers. That was not meant to be but he signed for a 61 that was his lowest European Tour round, and he heads into round four in the mix for a first European Tour title. "I actually never thought about it until walking up the 18th fairway," he said of another potential sub-60 effort. "I missed a couple of putts on 13 and 14 from 12, 15 feet and I said to my caddie walking up 18, 'I may as well hole it and try to shoot 59'. I didn't do that but I had it going today, which was nice."

#GolfforGood the winner as Senior chases the ace

Jack Senior claimed the first hole-in-one of his European Tour career to secure a £50,000 donation from Betfred to the tournament’s Official Charity, the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation. Senior holed his tee shot from 176 yards with a seven iron at the par three 14th hole to earn the charity donation from the title sponsor, who are supporting the European Tour’s #GolfForGood initiative. The money will be used to fund projects helping people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “It ended up just being a really good number,” said Senior. “My caddie and I talked about the wind, it came up a bit and that made it a comfortable seven iron for me. It pitched about six inches short, one bounce past and it just swung back in there. I was fortunate that it ended up in the cup and it was a great shot. Obviously there was no crowd there to cheer it but I celebrated with my playing partner Guido Migliozzi and there were a few people down the green there who told me it went in, so it was a great feeling. It’s also fantastic to be able to give £50,000 to charity for one golf shot. It’s incredible really.”

Whitnell is feeling chipper

What a week it could be for Dale Whitnell. Playing his first full season on the European Tour 11 years after turning professional, he went out in the final group in round three. Rather than showing any signs of nerves, he chipped in at the second and seventh and then had a birdie-birdie finish to sit just three off the lead. There wouldn't be a much more popular winner on Saturday.