Nilsson on course for maiden victory

Christian Nilsson stayed on course for his first European Tour win after nine holes of the final round at the Saint-Omer Open today.

The Swede started the day two clear of Robert Coles, but that advantage quickly evaporated when the Englishman posted birdies on the second, fourth and sixth holes. Only a bogey on the par-four third prevented Coles from taking an outright lead.

Nilsson, who equalled the course record with a seven-under 64 on Friday, then birdied the par-five seventh to edge one shot in front on five-under-par.

Joining Coles on four under was another Englishman, David Dixon, who birdied four in a row from the seventh hole to shoot up the leaderboard.

Seve Benson and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne were three behind Nilsson on two-under after 14 and nine holes respectively, while David Drysdale, Finland's Roope Kakko, Richard Bland and Steven O'Hara were the only other players bettering par on one-under.