Tapio Pulkkanen fired a second consecutive nine under par 63 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Danish Golf Challenge.
The 36-year-old from Finland made eight birdies and an eagle at Odense Eventyr Golf, in a display that included several lengthy putts holed and saw him cruise away from what was a tightly bunched pack earlier in the day.
Pulkkanen was pleased he was able to get the putts to drop after not taking his chances on the third and fourth holes, that offered good birdie chances.
“A second 63 in a row is a pretty cool feeling,” he said. “I kind of had a slow start.
“I thought it might be tough to get a low one today but then the eagle on eight and a couple birdies in a row was great. I’ve been holing a lot of putts.”
Pulkkanen, who currently sits 25th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, began his week with an opening round of one under par, leaving him well off the pace heading into day two.
He bounced back well, however, attributing his excellent second and third rounds to a new feeling with the flatstick.
“I found my putting in Walton Heath at US Open qualifying on Monday and started holing putts in the second round. I opened my stance a bit so I can see the hole better, and the stroke feels great after that.
“I just trusted my putter, it was working so well. I played the tough holes pretty good today, it was quite windy on the back nine so I’m happy.
“A third 63 tomorrow would be good.”
Frenchman Maxence Giboudot and 36-hole co-leader Algot Kleen from Sweden are Pulkkanen’s closest competitors, the pair shooting nine under par and five under par respectively to be three shots back of the leader.
Spaniard Juan Salama and Frenchman Clement Sordet sit a further shot back, while the other halfway co-leaders in Dane Martin Simonsen and Dutchman Lars van der Vight finished the day 13 under par.
The final round of the Danish Golf Challenge begins at 8.00am local time, with Tapio Pulkkanen teeing off with Maxence Giboudot and Algot Kleen at 10.01am.
