Romain Wattel swiftly came under pressure as the final round of the KLM Open began in Zandvoort.
The 23 year old Frenchman held an overnight lead of three shots after a third round 64, but despite nearest challenger Richie Ramsay bogeying two of his first three holes, other players were closing in.
Wattel was level par through three holes and remained 14 under, but 12-time European Tour winner Paul Casey had moved to within two shots after getting up-and-down from the edge of the green at the long second for birdie and then hitting his tee shot at the par three next to tap-in range.
Another Englishman, Andy Sullivan, sat third on 11 under after birdies from five feet at the second and third, while defending champion Joost Luiten was still in the hunt on ten under.
The home favourite’s chances of a second victory on Dutch soil looked to have disappeared when he ran up a nine on the par five second yesterday, but a birdie there today and a 25 foot putt at the third left him firmly in contention at Kennemer Golf & Country Club.
Wattel extended his run of pars to six, allowing Casey and Sullivan to close to within one.
Three-time Ryder Cupper Casey holed a winding 15 foot putt at the fifth and would have tied for the lead had he not three putted the six after driving the green, while former Walker Cup star Sullivan left himself a tap-in at the sixth and found the green at the long seventh in two to set-up another simple birdie.
Luiten, Ramsay and Oliver Fisher were all four off the pace at ten under and in need of some swift gains.
