Darius van Driel still holds a share of the lead at 10-under heading into the weekend after closing with a bogey-free 68 at the Magical Kenya Open.
“It was a good round,” said the Duchman. “Bogey-free, not stress-free. I had to work hard for it the last couple of holes. Overall, a good round.
“It’s always been my dream to win on the DP World Tour. Trying to calm my emotions a little bit, not get ahead of myself. Play well and in the end I hope it’s enough.
“I’m confident. I’m playing well and holing a few putts. I’m going in there confident tomorrow. I’m tied for the lead so I’ve got everything still in my own hands.”
Spain’s Manuel Elvira signed for a 67 to join him at the top of the leaderboard.
“I feel like I was in position all the time. I missed a couple of drives but I was always in the right spots and I gave myself a lot of chances for birdie. I think that was pretty important.”
Elvira finished third on last season’s Road to Mallorca and is playing in his maiden season on the DP World Tour. His brother Nacho lies three shots behind in a share of sixth place.
“It’s always nice,” said Manuel. “I saw [Nacho’s] name on the leaderboard and I was happy because I knew he was playing well.
“I was talking to my caddie and saying ‘how cool would it be to play on Sunday with him?’. Unfortunately we’re not going to be able to but it’s still going to be really nice to be both in contention.”
Scotland’s Connor Syme started the day in a three-way tie for the lead and closed with a 70 featuring an eagle at the par-5 10th, three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey at the par-4 8th.
He is currently tied in third place at 8-under alongside England’s Joe Dean who carded a 68 and South Africa’s Ryan van Velzen who shot 67.
Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland held a share of the lead overnight but also double bogeyed at the 8th and closed with a 71 to slip down into a share of sixth place at 7-under.
