September 03-06
Real Club Valderrama, Sotogrande, Spain
€1,250,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

John Catlin will go in search of his first European Tour win as he takes a two stroke lead into the final round of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters.

The American, who has four Asian Tour titles to his name, started the third day at Real Club Valderrama two shots ahead of a chasing pack and had briefly increased his lead to three after a birdie on the eighth hole.

But the notoriously tricky 1997 Ryder Cup venue showed its teeth on the back nine as he came home two over par to sign for a one over 72 and a two under total - meaning he enters the final round as the only player under par.

“I hung in there really well. I was hitting the ball pretty solidly, I was just having trouble getting it really close to the hole like I had the first couple of rounds. I made some really nice three to eight footers for par to keep the momentum going.

"It would have been nice to finish off a little better. I actually thought I hit a pretty decent shot there into 17, missed it by a yard and a half – that's how this course can be sometimes. You hit a pretty good shot and you're just a little bit off and it can make you pay. It made me pay there, but having a two shot lead going into the final round on such a difficult golf course – I'm really happy.

"The mental side is very important – you're going to hit good shots and not end up in good spots and you're going to need to be able to bounce back, keep your metal focus in the right place. That can be tough, but I'm proud of what I was able to do from that side of things and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Catlin is just two strokes ahead of former World Number One and two-time Major Champion Martin Kaymer. The German, who has stated that one of his career ambitions is to win at Valderrama, carded a two under par round of 69 to move back to level par.

“I made very few mistakes this week, couple of bad tee shots that created a couple of double bogeys in the first two rounds," said Kaymer. "Besides that I hit a couple of very good iron shots, I made the up and downs when I needed to make then, especially yesterday to keep a decent round going.

"Today I created enough chances. It was very difficult today I think to make putts because they put the pins in some very tricky positions. It was very firm around the greens, almost burnt, so you can't really be that aggressive. I played smart and avoided the mistakes.

"Winning in Valderrama was always one of my goals, one of my dreams. The first time I came here in 2007, I pulled the card myself in my practice round and that was one of the most enjoyable practice rounds I've ever had because it was just you and Valderrama. To win here would be something very special.”

In a share of third on one over are 2014 Ryder Cup player Jamie Donaldson and Lorenzo Gagli of Italy, who celebrated his first European Tour hole-in-one with an ace on the 203-yard 12th hole. Sami Välimäki, winner of the Oman Open back in March, is a stroke further back on two over par.

“It was a perfect shot, four iron," said Gagli. "The wind was into from the left. I hit a perfect shot, a little low with a little draw and it landed just at the front of the green and rolled in. I think it's my first.

"This is the third day in tough conditions on a really tough golf course. Anything can happen, you can make birdie, bogey or double bogey with the same shot. You have to stay patient and I'm happy with my game. I hit the ball nicely over the three days, I think I missed three or four tee shots today but that can happen.

"It's going to be a great day tomorrow but on this golf course you have to play shot by shot, stay patient and I'm happy to be in contention again.”