Jesper Svensson shot a 68 in a weather-affected round on Saturday to take a one-shot lead with one round left at the D+D Royal Czech Masters.
On the afternoon of the third day, storms in Prague forced a three-hour delay, but Svensson remained calm and shot a bogey-free 68 to 16 under.
Second-round leader David Ravetto was one shot back with a 70, while British trio Andrew Johnston, Brandon Robinson Thompson and Ross Fisher tied for third with France's Adrien Saddier.
South African Robin Williams became the third player this week to shoot 63, following Ravetto and Johnston on Friday, the best score on the Kyle Phillips-designed course since the 2020 Open.
Williams had seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole with a 27-foot putt.
He is tied for 13th with Richie Ramsay, Francesco Laporta and Andy Sullivan.
Swenson got off to a good start, driving the green and making a great two-putt from more than 70 feet away, then making another birdie with a 34-foot putt on the third hole.
He made par all the way and birdied the 11th hole before play was suspended, then added another on the 13th.
He chipped his tee shot into the fairway on the 16th and hit a 311-yard 3-wood to the center of the green for par, and he calmly two-putted on the final hole to take a one-shot lead going into the final day of play under uncertain weather.
“It’s nice to be in a good position for tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t really think about it, but I managed to avoid bogey today and hit the ball pretty well again, but hopefully I can putt a little bit better tomorrow.”
Asked about the possibility of winning a second DP World Tour title after the Porsche Singapore Classic in March, he said: “It would be a different experience. There are still a lot of tournaments to play but it would be great.”
Lavitto had to try to build on Friday’s 63 (tied for the course record) as he dropped shots on the 2nd and 7th holes and needed back-to-back birdies around the turn (a great approach on the 8th and then a fantastic chip out of a bunker on the 9th) to get under par.
He bogeyed the 12th hole again, then birdied the next hole and continued his form with a birdie at the 16th hole to put himself in the lead of the chasers.
“I’m very happy, very excited,” he said. “It was a good day today and even though I didn’t play my best golf, I still shot two under, so I’m very happy.”
Lavitto, who is seeking his first DP World Tour title having lifted the trophy at the Challenge Tour’s Dimension Data Pro-Am in February, said: “It means a lot, it will be a massive step up.
“Obviously we’re all human, so I think about it, but I try not to think about it too much.”
Sadier made three straight birdies after opening with a par, and although he lost a birdie on the 6th hole, his fourth attempt on the 9th hole left him out in 33.
Although he had a bogey on the 10th hole, he made three birdies starting from the 12th hole, including the 4th hole, and finally got an impressive 67.
Robinson Thompson, winner of last week's Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A Challenge Tour, continued his steady play this week, birdying the 4th, 10th and 13th holes and making no bogeys.
Fisher made three birdies in five holes starting at the 13th to finish the day at 14 under.
Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Images
