Nilsson lead cut by Morgan

Sweden’s Christian Nilsson still leads the Saint-Omer Open after making a solid start to his third round on Saturday, but his advantage has been cut to one shot.

Having started the day on three under following his course record-equalling 64 on Friday, the 29-year-old parred his first four holes to stay in front.

However, his playing partner, Englishman John Morgan, birdied the par-three second hole to move to two under.

Robert Coles, another Englishman, made a sublime start after posting birdies on five of the opening nine holes to move up to two under, but he then double-bogeyed the par-four 12th to slip back.

Another birdie on the 13th gives him a share of third place on one under, alongside Australian Scott Barr and Wales’ Liam Bond.

Barr birdied three holes in a row to complete a superb front nine.

Francois Delamontagne, David Dixon and Steven O’Hara are all level par, as is Cesar Monasterio, the Argentinian who won here in 2006.

Irishman Paul McGinley, who was the pre-tournament favourite and competing to boost his chances of a place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team, crashed out on Friday after missing the cut by two shots.

His rounds of 74 and 74 put him at seven over, which was not good enough to stay for the weekend.