Nilsson stumbles, but keeps lead at St. Omer Open
LUMBRES, France -- Swede Christian Nilsson stayed two shots clear of the field in the St. Omer Open despite some late problems in Saturday's third round.
Nilsson double-bogeyed the 17th as he added a one-under 70 to his course-record 64 of Friday to move to four-under-par 209, two strokes ahead of Britain's Robert Coles (66) and the home favorite Francois Delamontagne (67).
Belgium's Nicolas Vanhootegem (69) and Briton Liam Bond (70) are one stroke further back.
Nilsson lies 165th on the European Tour money list and is playing mostly on the lower-tier Challenge Tour after losing his full card last year.
He is now in search of a maiden success that will earn him an exemption for the 2009 season, more starts on the full tour this year and a spot in the big-money Champions tournament in China in November.
The leader showed his determination to revive his career by following his double blemish on the short penultimate hole, where he putted off the green, by sinking a nine-footer on 18 for a closing birdie.
"I misjudged my putt, about 15 metres, from the bottom tier on 17 and the ball ran off the green into the rough," Nilsson told reporters.
"It could happen to anybody, though, these greens are so tough. I knew I needed to let it go from my mind and I did."
Nilsson admitted he might spend a nervous night, adding: "I'm going to be nervous anyway over the football [Sweden versus Spain in Euro 2008] but this is good experience and hopefully I'm well prepared for tomorrow."
Coles, 35, began his full tour career in 1996 but dropped to the Challenge Tour after the 2006 season, despite having his best result that year, tied third in the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.
"This tournament is like a major for the Challenge Tour players in it," Coles told reporters. "I'm well aware of what winning it means and I'm glad I've got some confidence back this week."
