Scandinavian Mixed: Dale Whitnell leads Yannik Paul by four shots going into the final round in Sweden | Golf news

Dale Whitnell leads Yannik Paul by four shots going into the final day, with Richie Ramsay in third ahead of Anne van Dam. watch the final round of the Scandinavian Mixed live on Sunday from midday on Sky Sports Golf

Dale Whitnell moved a step closer to a maiden DP World Tour title despite seeing his lead cut to four shots heading into the final round of the Scandinavian Mixed.

The 34-year-old followed up a sensational second-round 61 in two-under 70 at Ullna Golf and Country Club on Saturday, where he shot seven birdies but also registered a bogey and two double-bogeys.

Whitnell is 19 under and four clear of Ryder Cup hopeful Yannik Paul, who posted a second consecutive 68, and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay is six strokes off the pace in third, ahead of Anne Van Dam of the Netherlands.

“It’s hard to go through a round of golf without dropping a shot, let alone two, three or four, so I held my guns, had a game plan and tried to execute,” Whitnell said. “I mean it wasn’t a bad day, it wasn’t exactly ideal, but it was more than acceptable.”

Whitnell’s overnight lead was extended when Paul bogeyed the first, and the Englishman canceled his own bogeys on three of the next four holes to jump to eight.

Paul eagled the par-5 fourth and was six behind at the turn when Whitnell double-bogeyed the par-four ninth, only for his playing partner to start the back nine with a 12-foot birdie at the 10th.

Back-to-back birdies by Paul at the 12th kept the pressure on Whitnell, who made a tap-in birdie at the 15th but doubled up the next three after finding water on the tee. legs to finally match the German’s birdie and stay four ahead.

“Yannik played great and hit some good shots under pressure,” said Whitnell. “He started off with a nice eagle on the fourth and then there was a mix and match of birdies, but yeah, I just kept my head and it was nice to follow that up on the last.”

Ramsay made three birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine to finish with a three-under 69 to finish at 13 under, while Van Dam had the lowest round of the day with a nine-under 63 to jump into fourth place.

Van Dam is the highest-ranked woman in the unique event where men and women compete in the same venue for one prize pool and one trophy, with Gabriella Cowley and Madelene Sagstrom tied for fifth in the group after third-round 64s.

“This morning I looked and there were only four girls and 24 guys in front of me, so I knew I had a lot to do,” Van Dam said. “It was a nice day to go out there and play aggressively.”

Who will win the Scandinavian Mixed? Watch the final round live on Sunday from midday on Sky Sports Golf.