The challenging layout at Golf & Country Club Zürich was to succumb to excellent golf during the third round of the European Amateur Championship.
Swiss player Cedric Gugler was the first to post an eight under par 63 – a bogey-free round kicked-off with an eagle at the long par 5 3rd. With only one birdie on the front nine, birdies from 10 through 13, with a further at 16, Gugler closed the back nine in 30 (-5).
Not far behind, Germany’s Philipp Katich took control on the front nine, turning in 31 (-5). A bogey at 11 was remedied with birdies from 12 through 15, to post his course record-equalling score.
In the final seeded group, the two German competitors, Nick Bachem and defending champion, Matthias Schmid, were the next to challenge. Schmid started slowly, turning the front nine with two birdies and a bogey versus Bachem’s four birdies, but then commenced the back nine with birdies at 10 and 11 and an eagle at 12, with Bachem nearly matching with three birdies. Bachem only faltered with a bogey on 15, while Schmid birdied, but then returned birdies at 16 and 18 for his 63. Schmid birdied 18 for a 64.
Both Bachem and Schmid lead the field on -12 and will be difficult to catch if they drive each other similarly on the final day. The are both five clear of Katich and David Ravetto (FRA), Filip Raza is alone on -6 and then Gugler and Timo Vahlenkamp (GER) will be trying to catch the leaders from -5.