Seville, Spain – Simon Dyson closed his round with a double- bogey on Saturday, but still managed to grab a one-stroke lead after 54 holes of the Open de Espana.
Dyson posted a one-under 71 to end three rounds at five-under-par 211. He will go for his seventh European Tour title on Sunday.
Pablo Larrazabal carded a three-under 69 to improve 12 places into a share of second at minus-four. He was joined there by Soren Kjeldsen, who managed a one-under 71 at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.
Jorge Campillo stumbled to a one-over 73 to slide into fourth at three-under- par 213, while Alejandro Canizares fired the low round of the day with a four- under 68. That helped him soar 26 spots into fifth place at minus-two.
The round was completed despite a 1-hour, 55-minute weather delay.
Despite playing after the worst conditions, second-round leader Gregory Bourdy struggled to an eight-over 80. His round included one birdie, two double- bogeys and five bogeys, and the Frenchman fell into a tie for 24th.
Dyson, the highest-ranked player in the field at world No. 36, stumbled to a bogey on the first as he couldn't get up and down for par from the sand. He got that stroke right back with a birdie on the second.
The 34-year-old converted back-to-back birdie efforts from the fourth to jump into the lead at minus-six. He parred his next four holes.
Dyson nearly holed his approach at the 10th, but settled for a kick-in birdie. He was two clear of Larrazabal at that point. After a pair of pars, Dyson faltered to a bogey on the 13th.
He atoned for that mistake with his third birdie in three days on the par-five 16th. Dyson struggled to a double-bogey at the last to cut his lead to one. For the week, Dyson has played the 18th in four-over par with a double-bogey and two bogeys.
"I drove the ball fantastic today. Long and straight, and if you can do that around here, you're always going to do half decent," Dyson said. "Disappointed at the last. I hit a decent shot in there at the last, it just went 15 yards further than I thought it would. And I just quit on the bunker shot there."
Larrazabal started his round with seven consecutive pars before catching fire. He converted a birdie chance on the eighth and followed with birdies at nine and 10 to move to four-under.
The Spaniard rolled in a birdie try on No. 13 to get within one of Dyson's lead. Larrazabal parred four in a row before tripping to a bogey at the last.
"Only one bogey, it's a great round. I like it when the course is challenging. I don't like it when the winner is 25-under," Larrazabal said.
Kjeldsen was tied for the lead after a birdie on the fifth. However, he double-bogeyed the ninth and bogeyed the 10th to tumble back to minus-one. Kjeldsen bounced back with three birdies in a four-hole span from the 13th to grab a share of second.
NOTES: Dyson owns a piece of the 54-hole lead for the sixth time in his career. After failing to hold the first three third-round leads, Dyson has gone on to win the last two...Defending champion Thomas Aiken struggled to a five-over 77 to slide into a share of 54th at plus-eight...With the tough conditions, there were just three rounds in the 60s versus seven rounds in the 80s.
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