Spain’s Sergio Garcia moved a step closer to following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, countryman Miguel Angel Jiménez, when he fired his third round in the sixties to join England’s Simon Khan at the top of the leaderboard in the Mallorca Classic at Pula GC in Mallorca.
Garcia, who shared the first round with another Spaniard, Carlos Rodiles, had the opportunity to lead outright after some sorcery but bogeyed the last for a round of 68 while Khan shot a one over par 71 for a nine under par total of 201.
Khan, winner of The Celtic Manor Wales Open earlier this year, was briefly five strokes ahead but bogeyed the fifth, tenth, 14th and 17th to drop back into a tie alongside Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman, Garcia.
Garcia produced two pieces of magic during his third round. He holed out of a bunker to birdie the 13th and then chipped in for another birdie on the 17th. But Garcia may come to regret dropping a shot on the 18th for the second day in succession - this time failing to get up and down from the back of the green.
"It was a really difficult day," said the 24 year old. "The wind was blowing really hard at times and it was definitely good to get it going a little bit with a few birdies.
"On the 13th it was a pretty simple bunker shot and I was thinking I could hole it. As soon as it hit the green it looked like it couldn't miss and on the 17th I was chipping back into the wind and uphill so it was not a very difficult chip."
Starting the day three shots clear of the field, par at the first two holes was enough for Khan to move four ahead of the chasing pack as the blustery wind quickly claimed several casualties.
Khan was briefly five shots clear when he birdied the third but bogeyed the fifth either side of birdies from Garcia at the fourth and sixth - the hole he eagled yesterday - to see his lead trimmed.
A bogey on the treacherous par five tenth left him just one clear and Garcia drew level for the first time courtesy of the birdie on the 13th.
Khan responded in style with birdies of his own on the 12th and 13th and despite bogeys at the 14th and 17th remains on course for a tilt at his second victory of the year.
Austria’s Markus Brier climbed into third place on his own after a round of 67 for a total of 203 while Rodiles signed for a 71 for fourth place on 204 going into the final round.
