The overnight co-leader had a birdie-birdie finish to move one shot ahead of Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon after another windy day in Hertfordshire, England, but there are six players within three shots of the summit ahead of what promises to be an exciting final round.
Haeggman birdied the drivable opening hole for the second successive day and added another at 9 to go out in 34. Things got even better for last year’s MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles winner with two more red numbers at 12 and 13 to reach -10.
He made his first bogey of the week at 15 and another immediately followed on 16 to drop him out of the lead, but he responded magnificently with a birdie at the par-5 17th and a 15-footer to claim the solo lead on 18.
“You birdie 17 and 18 and it’s happy days coming off,” he said. “You really want to be in that last group so you can control the field. It’s always better to be one ahead than one behind, obviously.
“I’ll have plenty of energy and momentum going into tomorrow. There’s a lot of good players and a lot of experience on the top of this leaderboard. It’s going to be a heck of a game tomorrow, but I’m prepared, I’m ready and I’m playing well. I’m looking forward to it.”
Hutcheon earned his Legends Tour card at Q School in January and he’s well in contention for a first win as he shot a 68 to reach -9. The Scot, who sits at 14th on the MCB Road to Mauritius, had back-to-back birdies on 3 and 4, and three in a row from the 13th before his only bogey of the day on 16.
Welsh pair Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge have played together the first two rounds and they’re locked in tied-3rd at -8 alongside Emanuele Canonica. Overnight co-leader Dodd had birdies at 1, 3 and 9, with a blemish on the 5th to get to -8 at the turn, and he rode the par train all the way home for a 70 to sit two shots off the lead.
Two-time DP World Tour winner Dredge had four birdies in his first 11 holes, but played the final seven in one over par for a 69. Canonica circled three red numbers on the bounce from the 4th, including getting within inches of an ace on 6, to turn in 33. Two birdies and one dropped shot on the back nine gave him a 68.
Two-time senior major winner Roger Chapman is 6th on -7, Greg Owen is 7th on -6 and former Ryder Cup player David Gilford shot 67, the lowest round of the day, to climb to 8th on -5. Tournament host Simon Khan is just outside the top 10 on -3 after shooting 73.
Visit www.legendstour.com to see the full leaderboard and final round tee times, and to find out more about the Legends Tour Trophy hosted by Simon Khan at Hanbury Manor Marriot Hotel and Country Club.
