Cazoo Open 2021 R3
July 22-25
The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales
€1,250,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Nacho Elvira started the day two shots ahead and started with a bogey at the par-4 1st immediately corrected by a birdie at the 2nd, followed by five more birdies to close with a 66 and increase his lead to six shots at the Cazoo Open supported by Gareth Bale. His 16-under total is the biggest 54 hole of the season.

Cazoo Open 2021 R3

The four-time European Challenge Tour winner's form hasn't been the best recently, he made just two cuts in his last eleven starts, but he could become the third wire-to-wire winner this season on Sunday following Bernd Wiesberger and Lucas Herbert.

"It’s a good feeling. But to be honest, I don’t care at the moment. I struggled a bit the last year, year and a half, not with form but it’s golf - mentally, a little bit physically, battling with an injury. I’m happy playing golf again and being in the moment."

Cazoo Open 2021 R3

"To be in contention is a gift. It shows that the work I’ve been doing is paying off. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow but I’m happy with the way I am to be honest.

"I'm trying not to think about it. I'm going to play as if I was tied for the lead or a couple behind. I want to play the same way I've played these last few days. Play smart, go at pins when we can if I have the number or play safe because there are some tucked pins. The most important thing, I'm going to try and enjoy myself."

Cazoo Open 2021 R3

"It rained a lot last night, the last couple of rounds I had the pace (on the greens) pretty well. My lines matched my speed, the first putt I hit today was right on the forehead. They were slower than I thought they' d be, but I managed well. I struggled with the speed on long putts, but I did pretty well.

"I'm going to try and play my best, if that brings me to the top of the leaderboard then great, if not, it's a learning process."

Callum Shinkwin (63) shot the lowest round of the week to tie for second alongside Mikko Korhonen (67), Justin Harding (66) and Chase Hanna (67).

"It was pretty chill to be fair," said Shinkwin. "All three of us were cruising around and it just happened. I was three under out and on the back nine I started holing a couple of putts and that's where the score came from.

"I played within myself today and played how Callum Shinkwin plays golf. It was nice. I didn't think about anything, I saw my name on the leaderboard and thought ‘that's great' but I just kept doing what I'm doing. I was hitting the ball well today. My iron play clicked today, which helps. At the end of the round I holed a couple of nice putts.

Cazoo Open 2021 R3

"Where has it come from? I don't know. I've been doing the right things, but nothing has been clicking for me. Today I was hitting the right numbers, the right shots and hitting it out the middle – which helps.

"Anyone out here can win, there's so many people who can win. It's tough. Winning is hard on the European Tour. There's too many good players out there who can shoot good numbers on last days and come through. I was lucky enough to do that last year. You just have to wait for your time to come, you never know when it's going to happen."

Sam Horsfield, the 2020 Celtic Classic champion, signed for a 65 to take solo sixth place at 9-under.

"It was good. I haven't been getting off to the greatest of starts over the last few days. Today was better. I was level through six and made a nice birdie on seven. I got things going but didn't play the par fives too well, but I'm happy with six under. I just realised I had four birdies on the last five. I got hot at the end, made a few nice putts and have an outside look at tomorrow. I'm right there.

"I have great memories of this golf course, winning here last year. I really like this place. It's a big property with a lot of land and a lot of space, they have done an unreal job of designing the golf course. You can tell it was designed for the Ryder Cup with the banks on the sides of the hills. It's a really cool place and I have a love for it."

Cazoo Open 2021 R3