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Erik Van Rooyen holds 54-hole lead at 2019 Scandinavian Invitation

By Matt Coles

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 11: Erik van Rooyen of South Africa acknowledges the crowd on the 9th hole during the completion of the final round of the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club on December 11, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 11: Erik van Rooyen of South Africa acknowledges the crowd on the 9th hole during the completion of the final round of the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club on December 11, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images) /
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Erik van Rooyen holds a one-shot lead ahead of the final round of the Scandinavian Invitation, after shooting 64 on moving day in Sweden.

Erik Van Rooyen, who has finished inside the top 20 in four of his last five events, including at the British Open at Royal Portrush, is still looking for his first victory on the European Tour. He took a big step forward in that mission in the third round of the Scandinavian Invitation.

His round on Saturday was an eventful one, with eight birdies and two bogeys leading to a six-under-par round. Van Rooyen birdied five of the last six to post the clubhouse lead at -13, one he now holds going into Sunday’s final round at Hills Golf Club.

Overnight leader Matt Fitzpatrick remains in the hunt, after his round of 69. The Englishman was on his way to an over-par round, but for this long eagle putt on the last.

Fitzpatrick is joined at -12 by China’s Ashun Wu and Australia’s Wade Ormsby, who held the lead on Thursday night after his first round 62.

Five men sit in a tie for 5th, three shots off the lead, including home favourite Henrik Stenson.His second round of 69 this week, sandwiching Friday’s 62, sees the Swede sit at -10.

Joining the Ryder Cup star are Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan, France’s Alexander Levy, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and South African Dean Burmester.

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Burmester shot 62 on Saturday, the low round of the day, to make the move from outside the top 30 into the top five.

Matthew Southgate makes it two Englishman inside the top ten ahead of the final round, as he sits four back from the lead. He is joined by American John Catlin and Belgium’s Thomas Detry.

Along with Stenson, there are 11 other Swedes through to the final round of the Scandinavian Invitation, after the second cut at the end of day three.

Joakim Lagergren and Niklas Lemke sit at -7, alongside the English pair Andrew Johnston and Robert Rock, while Rikard Karlberg and Sebastian Soderberg are a further shot back.

Two-time champion Alex Noren is at -4, nine shots off the lead, along with the leading amateur David Nyfjall.

With over 80 making the mid-way cut, the European Tour implemented a third round cut with 70 and ties making it through to Sunday.

Those that missed out include Edoardo Molinari and Brandon Stone, who both shot three consecutive rounds of level par. They were joined on a total of 210 by Adam Bland, the Aussie who hit the hole-in-one on Thursday.

The Swedish pair of Johan Edfors and Anton Karlsson missed out on making the final day, finishing at +1, while a third round of 77 saw Oliver Wilson end his week in 84th at the end of three days.

The final round begins at 07:17 local time (UTC+2), with Justin Walters and Max Schmitt teeing off in the first group. Leader Erik van Rooyen will get his final round underway at 13:06, playing alongside Wade Ormsby.

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Scandinavian Invitation Leaderboard:

1 (-13): Erik van Rooyen (RSA)

T2 (-12): Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG), Ashun Wu (CHN), Wade Ormsby (AUS)

T5 (-10): Henrik Stenson (SWE), Gavin Moynihan (IRL), Alexander Levy (FRA), Jamie Donaldson (WAL), Dean Burmester (RSA)

T10 (-9): John Catlin (USA), Matthew Southgate (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL)

Selected Others:

T17 (-7): Joakim Lagergren (SWE) Niklas Lemke (SWE), Andrew Johnston (ENG)

T22 (-6): Joost Luiten (NED), Rikard Karlberg (SWE), Sebastian Soderberg (SWE)

T30 (-5): Andrea Pavan (ITA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Paul Waring (ENG), Per Langfors (SWE)

T43 (-4): Alex Noren, David Nyfjall (A), Marcus Kinhult, Alexander Bjork (all SWE)

T58 (-3): Jens Dantorp (SWE), Henric Sturehed (SWE)

T62 (-2): Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP)

Missed Cut:

T75 (E): Edoardo Molinari (ITA), Brandon Stone (RSA), Adam Bland (AUS)

T78 (+1): Johan Edfors (SWE), Anton Karlsson (SWE)

84 (+7): Oliver Wilson (ENG)

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