Daniel Hillier and Marco Penge will share the lead going into a long final day at the Husqvarna British Masters, with 30 holes awaiting the pair at The Belfry on Sunday.

Hillier and Penge were tied at 11-under when fading light ended Saturday’s play during the third round. They will resume at 7am, both facing birdie putts on the sixth green. Penge is 23 feet from the hole, while Hillier is ten feet closer.

Tom McKibbin sits one shot behind after completing the sixth. Fabrizio Zanotti and Shaun Norris are another stroke back at 9-under, leaving the tournament tightly poised after weather disrupted the opening two days.

Penge and Hillier trade the lead

Penge began the third round with a one-shot advantage after the second round was completed on Saturday morning. The Englishman had dropped a shot across his remaining four holes, while Hillier covered the same closing stretch in level par.

Penge extended his lead by holing an 18-foot birdie putt at the first after the final group teed off at 6.31pm. The two-shot margin disappeared at the next hole, where Penge went through the green and failed to get up and down as Hillier struck his approach to tap-in range.

Hillier moved ahead with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 3d after Penge found the water and recovered to save par. Penge responded immediately, hitting his approach close at the 4th for a birdie that restored the tie.

Both players parred the 5th before the hooter sounded as darkness closed in over the Midlands.

Hillier, the 2023 champion at this event, is making his first competitive appearance since The Open. The 28-year-old spent the intervening month at home in New Zealand but played well on his return.

Penge has described his season as a “nightmare” after ear, neck and nervous-system problems restricted his schedule and forced him to miss the US Open. He now has an opportunity to turn that interrupted campaign into a home victory.

McKibbin leads the chasing group

McKibbin made third-round birdies at the 2nd and 5th, hitting both approaches inside ten feet to reach 10-under through six holes.

Zanotti moved to 3-under for his round with a long birdie putt at the first, a two-putt gain on the par-5 3rd and a precise approach at the 5th. He will return with a 24-foot par putt on the 8th green.

Norris, playing alongside the leaders, birdied the second after a fine approach. He was in the rough at the sixth when play stopped.

Oliver Lindell is 5-under for his 3rd round and 8ht under overall with four holes remaining. He shares that mark with Jacob Skov Olesen, who is 3-under through seven, and Nacho Elvira, who has completed six holes in level par.

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The LET Order of Merit leader survived a rain delay at The K Club, while Sara Kouskova, Kajsa Arwefjall and Leona Maguire strengthened the Sunday chase.

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