Callum Shinkwin showed the leaders the way at Golf Club de Genève after a fine six under par 66 on day three at the Rolex Trophy.
Starting the day seven strokes adrift of the leading Lasse Jensen, the 21 year old Englishman posted birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and seventh holes en route to an impressive front nine, before three more gains at the tenth, 13th and 15th.
He dropped a solitary shot at the par five eighth, but after consecutive rounds of 69, Shinkwin cranked it up a notch to put himself right into contention at 12 under par before some of the leading players had even hit the course.
After a successful amateur career, which saw him claim the 2013 English Amateur Championship as well as represent Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup, he has transferred that form to the professional ranks so far in 2014.
His second place finish at the Challenge de Catalunya, in only his third start has since been followed by two ties for eighth at both Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge and last week’s VACON Open, and that fine play has continued in Switzerland this week.
“The greens were great,” said Shinkwin, who is currently 30th on the Challenge Tour Rankings. “Every morning they have been rolled and cut, and have been pretty much perfect. I holed a couple of good putts today and just played solid. I don't know if it is easy out there, it is tricky if you don't hit it well from the tee, but if you get those away it makes the course lot easier.
“Usually off the tee I am very good and I hit the ball quite long, and with a wedge in your hands, normally as a pro you can hit it close.
“I have been playing quite solid most weeks and, for example, I hit the ball very well last week. I didn't hit the ball as well this week but you can score better on this course as it is lot shorter.
“I started well, with par-birdie-par-birdie-birdie, and just played the easy holes quite well. I also hit a couple wedge shots quite close. This is an event if you play well you move up the Rankings.”
Also going well in the early stages of the third round was Frenchman Jerome Lando Casanova, but he bogeyed two of his final three holes to take the shine of an otherwise impressive round of 67, to finish at ten under par through 54 holes.
That is the same mark as Florian Fritsch, who has been playing very consistent all season, and that continued on Friday as the German carded a solid one under par score.
