Day three digest: KLM Open

Sergio Garcia and Callum Shinkwin could not be separated ahead of the final round of the 100th KLM Open.

The duo were together in the penultimate group on Saturday as they each registered 66 in their third round to lead by two shots at 15 under par in Amsterdam.

Bunkers were involved on moving day, while a former two time European Tour winner returned to action, a former KLM Open winner endured a crazy card and a Dutch amateur went pin seeking.

Here is everything you need to know about day three at The International.

Luiten’s sand shot

Home favourite Joost Luiten had the fans cheering at the seventh during his third round. The two time event winner dumped his tee shot into a greenside bunker at the par three hole and any hope of a birdie two had gone out the window for most. But Luiten delicately scooped the ball out of the sand trap and into the cup to send the gallery wild in Amsterdam.

Kouwenaar goes close at seven

Dutch amateur Koen Kouwenaar has been making waves in his home tournament after easily making the cut at six under. The 21-year-old showed the battle wounds on his hands on Friday after declaring that he hits “about 1,000 balls a day” in a bid to become a regular on the European Tour. And all that practice and pain looked to have paid off at the seventh when he arrowed his tee shot at the pin, only for the ball to roll up inches short of an ace.

Shinwin’s pinpoint bunker birdie

Shinkwin was in a tie for the lead alongside playing partner Garcia when he approached the ninth hole. The Spaniard was on the fairway as Shinkwin was trapped in the rough and he may have thought his luck had ran out when he skewed his approach into the sand. The ninth hole has been one of the most difficult at The International, but the Englishman produced an exquisite shot to pop the ball out of the bunker and into the hole at dead weight for an unlikely birdie to jump ahead at 13 under.

Wally's still got it

Anthony Wall returned to the golf course for the first time since calling time on his 22 year career in May 2018. The 44-year-old won twice on the European Tour, but was called upon for the Beat the Pro! challenge at the 13th hole. Wall took on the final group of the third round, James Morrison and Scott Jamieson, in the closest to the pin challenge. Morrison set an imposing challenge of around 15 feet - with Jamieson marginally longer - but Wall rolled back the years as he planted his ball on the fringe before spinning back towards the pin. He rode his luck as he cannoned into Morrison’s ball to sit closest to the flag and earn two domestic flights courtesy of event sponsor KLM - which he donated as a prize towards Richard Boxall’s charity golf day.

Round of two halves for Pieters

The 2016 Ryder Cup started the day at seven under following a fine 66 in the second round, sitting four shots behind overnight leader Jamieson. His charge for a second KLM Open title was derailed on the front nine which consisted of a double bogey, three dropped shots and a birdie for 40. However, he picked up six shots, including four gains in a row from the 13th, to come in for 30 and although his chances of victory remain distant, he finished Saturday in a tie for ninth.