RICHIE Ramsay goes into the final day of the KLM Open in second place after matching Friday's round with another 65.
The Scot, who won a year's supply of beer for a hole-in-one at the 11th during his second round, narrowly failed to pull off a repeat of the feat yesterday with a birdie two at the same hole. He starts today three behind leader Romain Wattel, who shot six-under-par 64 for a 14-under total of 196.
New father Paul Casey shot up the leaderboard to third on 10 under after equalling Pablo Larrazabal's day-old course record of 62.
Ramsay, who held the halfway lead at the Omega European Masters last week before fading to eighth place, carded six birdies and one bogey. He said: "My attitude pleased me. I nearly got a hole-in-one on 11 again. It was playing tough, a front pin and it was a 7-iron to four feet, so three shots in two days on the hole is a good effort.
"I've been working on the mental side and being a bit more patient, and I've worked on the short irons. I was making too many mistakes. I've started making birdies now. It was a small change, but it has worked. I'm in a lovely position. I need the same attitude tomorrow, so I'm hoping to go out and enjoy it as you don't get this sort of opportunity all the time."
Frenchman Wattel is seeking his first European Tour title. He said: "I know if I play well enough I am going to win one day; maybe it's going to be tomorrow, maybe it's going to be in two years, I don't really know. The most important thing for me is to play some good golf.
"I am not in the top 100 in the world [he is ranked 125th] so I can't play the best tournaments. I am just trying to improve my game week after week. I am confident and even if I don't win tomorrow it's not a big deal. It will have been a good week for me."
Casey had a chance to claim the first 59 on the European Tour, carding nine birdies in his first 16 holes after starting from the 10th, but could only manage par at the eighth and bogeyed the ninth.
The Englishman said: "I wasn't thinking about what I was shooting. The disappointment was making a bogey on the last, not in missing out on a 59.
"After becoming a father a few days ago, there have been times when I would rather have been at home. I will be committed tomorrow, but I will maintain that carefree attitude. Whether I win or not, I'll get to go home to my new baby."
Larrazabal started the day two clear of the field and looked to be making serene progress as he followed six pars with a birdie at the seventh. However, his tee-shot at the short eighth found thick rough and led to a quadruple-bogey seven. The Spaniard eventually signed for a 75, that left him nine shots off the lead.
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