Lee Slattery and Rafa Cabrera-Bello share KLM lead

Both players shot superb 63s to go into the final day tied for the lead on 16 under

Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain in action during the third day of the KLM Open at the Kennemer Golf & Country Club in Zandvoort, The Netherlands. Photo: Koen Soyuk/PA
Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain in action during the third day of the KLM Open at the Kennemer Golf & Country Club in Zandvoort, The Netherlands. Photo: Koen Soyuk/PA

Lee Slattery is looking to capture back-to-back European Tour victories after a seven-under-par 63 earned the Englishman a share of the lead in the third round of the Dutch Open at Zandvoort on Saturday.

The 37-year-old, who won last week’s Russian Open, is on 16-under 194 on the links of the Kennemer Golf and Country Club, alongside Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (63).

Scotland's Paul Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion, is third on 195 after carding a 63, one stroke ahead of Belgian Thomas Pieters (62).

Simon Thornton continues to lead the Irish contingent after an excellent 66 that included five birdies and one bogey, leaving him on nine under par for the tournament.

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He's two shots ahead of Padraig Harrington who added to his 65 yesterday with a flawless 67 today.

Things didn't go quite as well for Peter Lawrie who followed a bogey at his opening hole with 17 straight pars to card a 71 and go into the final day well back at two under par.

“It’s like a dream come true at the minute,” Slattery told reporters. “I went into last week with a lot of pressure on and won and then I’ve come here with no pressure whatsoever and have just been trying to play good golf.

“Over the years I’ve been told a lot that I should be doing better, that I’ve under-achieved.

“I knew deep down that there are certain aspects of my golf swing I struggle with and I had to get stronger,” added Slattery who is ranked 197th in the world.