Alexander Noren birdied his last hole of the day to take a slender one-shot lead into the final round of the Saab Wales Open.
Overnight leader Noren shot an even-par 71 in the third round to remain eight under overall, just ahead of fellow Scandinavians Anders Hansen (66) and Peter Hanson (69).
Noren struggled in windy conditions and made three bogeys over the front nine, at the fourth, sixth and ninth, to reach the turn at three-over. But the Swede found some form on his back nine with successive birdies at the 11th and 12th before hauling himself back to par with another at the 14th. His bogey at the 17th looked to have left him in a share of the lead heading into Sunday, but the 28-year-old pulled it out of the bag by making his fourth birdie of the day to remain eight-under through 54 holes.
Hansen also started poorly with bogeys at two of his first three holes, but the Swede recovered to make the turn at one-under thanks to birdies at four, seven and eight. He continued that with three more birdies before bogeying the 16th. Hansen could have ended the day tied for the lead but his second shot at the eighth fell inches shot and he had to settle for an eagle that put him in second.
Just like Noren and Hansen, Hanson came struggled early on with bogeys at the first two holes, but he got his challenge back on track with four birdies to record a two-under round that improved him to seven-under.
Jamie Donaldson leads the Welsh contingent after a even-par third round ensured he remains six-under for the tournament, a single shot ahead of Englishman Steve Webster (70) and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (72).
Graeme McDowell plummeted out of contention with a dreadful 10-over-par 81. The Northern Irishman began the day in second but he endured a day to forget with four double-bogeys and three bogeys ending his chances of winning at Celtic Manor.
