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Syme & Soderberg lead the way at Wales Open

Connor Syme walks off the 18th
Connor Syme walks off the 18th

Connor Syme made a birdie on the last to get back into a share of the lead heading into the final round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

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The Scot has now held the lead or a share of the lead in four of his last five rounds but crucially did not when the trophy was given out at last week's Celtic Classic, finishing in a tie for third.

But he will have another chance to claim a first win on a top-tier circuit after his 18-foot putt on the par-five 18th handed him a third-round 70 and moved him alongside Swede Sebastian Soderberg at seven-under.

The European Tour is playing the second of back-to-back events at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue and Syme is delighted to be in contention again in windy South Wales.

"Finding myself in the same position as last week, I'll just try and do the same stuff I've been doing all week," he told europeantour.com.

"I don't think it's going to be quite as windy tomorrow but it's a different challenge with that compared to last week. Pars will probably more your friend than birdies whereas last week you felt you had to attack a little bit more. It'll be the same game plan as last week and try give myself a chance coming down the back nine.

"It would be amazing to win, having come close last week. You don't really know how many times you'll get those opportunities so it's another one tomorrow. If it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world, but hopefully I'm going to play well tomorrow and give myself a chance."

Cormac Sharvin carded an excellent two-under 69 to lift himself in to a tie for 21st on level par, with Jonathan Caldwell four shots further back following a 71 - his best round of the tournament so far. Paul Dunne is six-over after shooting a 73.

Meanwhile Soderberg [above], who defeated Rory McIlroy as part of a five-man play-off to win last season's Omega European Masters, fired a bogey-free 68 to give himself a chance of a second victory inside 12 months.

"It feels great to be in position, I just try and stay patient," he said. "If it's the same wind tomorrow, it's so easy for it to just get away from you so every shot is a battle, even in the downwind holes.

"If you start losing focus it's easy to make some big numbers. I just need to keep battling shot by shot."

Finn Sami Valimaki was four under, a shot clear of Ryder Cup players Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Pieters, with English duo David Dixon and James Morrison in a group at two under.

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