August 22-25
Hills Golf & Sports Club, Gothenburg, Sweden
€1,500,000
Live leaderboard
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

Erik van Rooyen once again found himself in contention for a maiden European Tour victory as he birdied five of his last six holes to take a one shot lead into the final round of the Scandinavian Invitation.

"It was a little scrappy on the front so I didn't feel like it was going to be a 29. I was quite surprised and really happy."

The South African was the European Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year last season with five top tens and he has already matched that total this term, with two second place finishes.

He arrived at Hills Golf & Sports Club fresh off a top five at the D+D Real Czech Masters and a third round 64 in Gothenburg moved him to 13 under, one clear of Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick, Australia's Wade Ormsby and China's Wu Ashun.

The 29-year-old linked up Alex Gaugert earlier this season - hiring his former University of Minnesota team mate as his caddie - and after his round he had no problem giving his bagman plenty of credit.

"A caddie for me isn't just a guy that carries the bag and then goes and has a few beers after the round. For me, it's just as important as the rest of the stuff that I do.

"We've known each other for a very long time so he knows me really well. He knows when to kick me in the butt when I need it and tell me not to be a child on the golf course and he also knows when to say, 'dude, really well done'. We're a great team."

Overnight leader Fitzpatrick had looked in control for most of the day but dropped three shots in as many holes from the 14th before a closing eagle from off the green handed him a 69. Ormsby had opened his week with a 62 but followed it with a 71 before registering a 65 on day three, while Wu was a picture of consistency in his 67.

“It was just a couple of bad swings that cost me a couple of shots," said Fitzpatrick. "I felt comfortable all day, played really solid, just didn't make anything. We were just a little bit out with the clubs and that made it a little difficult to hole 25 footers for birdie.

“When I hit it (eagle putt on 18), I thought it was a good pace to have a chance distance wise, and it got about three quarters of the way and was actually online, and I thought this has got a really good chance. Fortunately, I nailed it right in the middle.

“I always want to win. For me after winning three years in a row it became a bit of a goal, whether it is one win or as many wins in a year, you know if I win now or later this year it will be winning five years in a row, so that is a goal for me to keep that up, but I will be going out there tomorrow trying to win.”

South Africa's Dean Burmester matched the lowest round of the week with a 62 to get to ten under alongside local hero Henrik Stenson, Welshman Jamie Donaldson, France's Alexander Levy and Irishman Gavin Moynihan.

Stenson double bogeyed the first but a long putt on the third brought the biggest cheer of the day in a 69, and he was a shot clear of American John Catlin, Belgian Thomas Detry and Englishman Matthew Southgate.