BY BRENDAN JAMES at LAKE KARRINYUP

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen admits he’s not sure how hard it will be playing the final round of the ISPS Handa Perth International with a three-shot headstart over the field. But he’ll take it.

For the third consecutive day, the 24-year-old made relatively light work of the 6,531-metre journey around the par-72 course. He made six birdies in his five under round of 67, which included one bogey, which was only his second dropped shot in 54 holes.

Olesen's long game was wayward at times during the third round. PHOTO: Getty Images. Olesen's long game was wayward at times during the third round. PHOTO: Getty Images.

It is often said tournament victories usually come on the back of a great short game and Olesen has proven, thus far, his game on and around the undulating Lake Karrinyup greens is first class.

During the third round, it seemed that every time it looked likely for him to drop a shot he made a putt or, as was the case on the par-5 3rd, he holed a chip shot. There, he had blown his drive well right into the trees and was forced to punch out onto the fairway. His third shot missed the green left, leaving a difficult recovery but the Dane was more than up to the test – holing the shot to kick-start his round.

His game from tee to green never reached any great heights on day three. He missed seven greens and half the fairways from the tee, but he wielded a putter that was white hot. Just as he had done in the first round, he needed just 24 putts for the round. As the shadows lengthened across the course on Saturday afternoon, he rolled in 12 putts on the homeward nine to guarantee his advantage over the field heading into Sunday remained.

“I tried to go out there and be aggressive like I did the first two days but I didn’t have the game today,” the Dane said. “I didn’t feel good, so I was struggling out there.

“I made some good up-and-downs to keep it going and of course a great chip on the 3rd hole. It was a fight all the way through but I still got to five under, which, for me, was a great score today.

“I was a bit off line out there with a few tee shots but I kept on fighting and I hit some good iron shots from some bad positions…so its awesome to shoot five under.”

Olesen makes a good escape from a bunker on the 4th hole. PHOTO: Getty Images Olesen makes a good escape from a bunker on the 4th hole. PHOTO: Getty Images

Olesen, who has one European Tour win on his resume, said he will be nervous standing on the 1st tee for the final round knowing he leads by three shots. But it won’t change his aggressive game plan.

“It’s been a couple of years since I won so I will be nervous,” he said. “But I’ve been in contention in big tournaments so I know how it feels but it would be great to get that victory and it will definitely be on my mind.

“But I’m excited about standing on the 1st tee and going out there and having fun. I plan to be aggressive on the greens and with my iron shots and try to hit a few more fairways. When I play aggressive, I think that’s when I’m playing my best.”

Olesen said there is a different pressure holding a lead going into the final round but added, its better to be in front than to be coming from behind.

“In the lead, that’s where you want to be,” he said. “But you still have in the back of your mind its going to be tough, you know you can make a couple of bogies and they can make birdies and all of a sudden its switched around and you’re chasing.

“Leading is definitely not easy, but I’m happy with a three-shot lead…I would have taken that on Wednesday night.”

His nearest chaser is American-based South Korean Sihwan Kim, who fought his way back into contention on the back nine with an eagle at the short par-4 14th followed by a birdie at the next. Having dropped six shots behind Olesen at one stage during the third round, Kim’s rally for a three under 69 was outstanding and, sadly, could have been one shot better if not for a wayward approach and soft bogey at the final hole.

Peter Uhlein plays a chip shot in his round of 65. PHOTO: Getty Images. Peter Uhlein plays a chip shot in his round of 65.
PHOTO: Getty Images.

Kim is three shots behind Olesen on 13 under, with England’s James Morrison one stroke back on 12 under. Both players need to win or, at he very least, finish outright second tomorrow to retain their European Tour Playing card for 2015.

The best round of the day came from American Peter Uhlein, who made seven birdies in a flawless display for a seven under 65 to move into fourth place at 11 under.

The big-hitting 25-year-old’s iron play was brilliant, missing just two greens during the round. While, from the tee, he averaged an astonishing 323 metres but played many of his second shots from off the fairway. In fact, he only hit six out of the 14 fairways in his round.

Uhlein, the 2010 US Amateur Champion, has only one professional victory (the Madeira Islands Open last year) to his name and hopes Olesen stays within reach.

“Yeah, as long as TO stays within sight it gives everybody a chance,” Uhlein said.

“He seems to be running away with it. It is nice to kind of get up there and get in contention.”

Richard Green is the best placed Australian after a two under 70, which has him tied for fifth at 10 under.

For the full leaderboard, click here