Mikael Lundberg produced a brilliant seven-under-par 65 to take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Staysure English Legends at Chart Hills.

The Swede moved to 12-under-par for the championship, three clear of overnight leader Stephen Gallacher, who battled to a two-under 70 to reach nine-under. Simon Griffiths and Maarten Lafeber share third place at four-under, while Andrew Marshall sits alone in fifth at three-under.

Lee Westwood began the day just two shots off the lead at five-under and remained in the mix for much of his second round, before a difficult finish saw him slip back to two-under after a three-over 75.

With gusty winds and spells of heavy rain making conditions increasingly difficult in Kent, only nine players finished the second round under par for the championship.

Three-time DP World Tour winner Lundberg, who is searching for his first Staysure Legends Tour victory, has been in impressive form this season, finishing runner-up at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship earlier this month and fifth at the Portugal Invitational.

The Swede started the day two shots behind Gallacher but wasted little time in making his move. His putter was on fire as he made five birdies in his opening six holes.

Lundberg reached the turn in a superb five-under 31 before adding back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th. He kept his card clean through the closing stretch and finished in style, holing a five-foot par putt at the 18th to complete a bogey-free 65.

“Extremely pleased. What can you say? I started off making a lot of nice putts, which makes the game so much easier,” said Lundberg. “After that, it was just trying not to make any mistakes. Today it just felt like it was on, so I tried to stay out of the way.”

With a three-shot advantage heading into Sunday, Lundberg is relishing the opportunity to compete for his maiden Staysure Legends Tour title after a string of close calls this season.

“It’s always fantastic once you’re up there. That’s what we play for. No matter what happens tomorrow, I’ll try to shoot as low as I can, try not to make mistakes and then we’ll see where it takes us.

“It’s another day at work. You try to stick to the things that you do and keep it as simple as possible.”

Gallacher, who began the day with a two-shot advantage following his opening 65, endured a more difficult start as the conditions began to take their toll.

The Scot mixed three front-nine birdies with bogeys at the second and eighth before another dropped shot at the 11th. He responded with back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th before a superb chip to a foot at the last secured his par and a second-round 70.

The four-time DP World Tour winner and member of Europe’s victorious 2014 Ryder Cup team sits alone in second at nine-under as he continues his pursuit of a maiden Staysure Legends Tour title and the opportunity to close the gap on Order of Merit leader Jamie Donaldson, who is not in the field this week.

Behind the leading pair, recent Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy winner Griffiths made one of the biggest moves of the day with an excellent six-under-par 66.

The Englishman began the round at two-over but surged up the leaderboard with five birdies in his opening six holes. Further gains at the 13th and 16th moved him to four-under for the championship and into a share of third alongside Lafeber, who has carded consecutive rounds of 70.

It proved a more difficult afternoon for Lee Westwood, who began the day five-under and remained in contention before a punishing closing stretch.

Westwood bogeyed the 16th before finding the water at the par-three 17th on his way to a double bogey. Another dropped shot at the last saw the former World Number One play his final three holes in four-over, signing for a three-over 75 to finish two-under.

“I didn’t play very well. I got off to a decent start. The conditions were tough, so you had to be playing well. I didn’t do too badly, but then I just had a terrible finish. Four-over for the last three holes, so that was disappointing,” said Westwood.

Despite his difficult afternoon, Westwood was impressed by the standard of play on his first Staysure Legends Tour appearance, particularly Lundberg’s 65.

“I’ve played with most of these guys and I know they’re good players – and they’re still good players. There was a 65 this morning, which was a hell of a round in these conditions. The standard is very high.”

Away from the action on the course, spectators can also visit the Destination Pavilion in the Tournament Village, where they can discover some of the Staysure Legends Tour’s leading golf destinations and enter competitions to win free golf holidays.

Lundberg will take a three-shot advantage over Gallacher into Sunday’s final round, with the pair set to battle it out at Chart Hills as both go in search of their first Staysure Legends Tour title.

For full leaderboard, click here.

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