It’s been a tough couple of days in the Challenge Tour’s Challenge de Espana, but JC Ritchie came through the third round on Saturday with a two-under-par 70 to climb into a share of 25th on three-over for the tournament.
Ritchie got his round off to a great start, with three consecutive birdies from the second hole. A dropped shot on the ninth saw him turn in two-under, and then another bogey on the 13th saw him slip back to one-under. He rounded off his third day with a birdie on the 16th, and that left him eight shots off the lead held by Victor Pastor of Spain. Pastor was one ahead of Jens Dantorp of Sweden and Conor Purcell of Ireland.
Wilco Nienaber, who led after the first round at six-under 66, had another indifferent effort in the third round with his three-over-par 75 dropping him to four-over for the tournament and a share of 32nd. Bryce Easton was on seven-over for 54 holes after a level-par 72 in the third round, in a share of 50th.
