Spain’s Adrian Otaegui leads the 2022 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters by six shots after posting a third-round 64.

Otaegui carded eight birdies and one bogey on Saturday to head into the final round on 16 under par, with countryman Angel Hidalgo and Swede Joakim Lagergren his nearest challengers on ten under.

Home hope Hidalgo came into the week 130th on the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex but has put himself in a brilliant position to climb up the charts.

The 24 year old  delighted the bumper crowds at Real Club Valderrama with a tremendous closing birdie to sign for a 70 which contained four birdies and three bogeys.

Lagergren, meanwhile, made an eagle, five birdies – including four in a row from the 11th – and three bogeys in his 67.

Australia’s Min Woo Lee was another shot back in fourth, two ahead of fifth-placed Robert MacIntyre of Scotland.

Player Quotes

Adrian Otaegui: I’m very happy, everything went perfectly today. I putted well, I felt very comfortable. The crowds were pushing amazingly, so that was unbelievable.

I had a very good start with a nice birdie on the second and then three birdies in a row at four, five, six and that gave me a bit of momentum. I felt good on the course, tried to enjoy it, tried to stay focused. I missed a couple of birdie putts at the beginning of the front nine but finished with three good birdies.

I’ve been trying to just play Valderrama. Be on the fairway, be on the green on the good side, and the ball was going where I wanted it to go. There are not many different ways to play Valderrama, other courses you can play holes a lot of different ways and still make a birdie. At Valderrama you need to play the good sides, so that was the key.

Angel Hidalgo: It was an amazing round. A lot of pressure on the first shot, the most pressure I have ever had, but I’m really happy. I’m happy with the score, with the feelings, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.

The other players have pressure to win the tournament, but I have more pressure because I’m fighting for the card for next year.

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