Broadhurst closing in on repeat victory

Defending champion Paul Broadhurst was showing little sign of relinquishing his grip on the Portuguese Open title.

The overnight leader quickly picked up shots at the start of his third round.

Broadhurst chalked up birdies at the fourth and fifth to move to 13-under and remained in pole position.

Curiously the 40-year-old tipped that mark as the winning score before the tournament began.

Broadhurst set a blistering pace on the opening day by equalling the course record of 64 and has not looked back.

He was two shots clear of France’s Christian Cevaer and three ahead of Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez at the top of the third-round leaderboard.

Gonzalez made up ground very quickly with five birdies in his opening seven holes today.

Incredibly the Argentinian had been in danger of missing the halfway cut after opening the tournament with a one-over 73.

Brian Davis was one shot further back on nine-under thanks to six birdies, including three in a row at the 12th, 13th and 14th.

Michael Hoey was on eight-under after a birdie at the par-five 11 following a bogey at the previous hole.

He raced to the turn in 32 following four successive birdies from the second.

Alistair Forsyth also made up ground with a superb 65 to move to seven-under.

He got a birdie at the third and followed that with a glorious eagle at the par-five fifth.

Forsyth maintained his momentum by picking up further shots at the seventh and 11th holes.

He completed a fine round by finishing with two successive birdies.