While Clément Sordet aims to graduate to the European Tour in style with victory at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final on Saturday, others jockeying for their careers further down the field won’t care how they scrape through – just as long as they do.

A day after Sordet aced Al Mouj Golf’s 8th hole en-route to third place, the 25-year-old Frenchman fired a four-under 68 to climb to the summit of the leaderboard with just 18 holes of the European Challenge Tour season to play. They promise to be nervy for most still involved in Muscat where the top 15 earn automatic promotion to the full European Tour in 2018.

Sordet started the week 12th on the money list but will soar to second if he wins Saturday and share in the €60,000 bonus pool.

“I am trying not to think about promotion at all. I have been playing really well over the last three weeks so I am just going to keep doing what I am doing as it has worked really well so far,” he admitted after starting Friday with back-to-back birdies before closing with another gain to move to -13 and leapfrog Finnish teen Oliver Lindell (-12) and Argentine Estanislao Goya (-11).

“Winning would be a really good way to graduate. Hopefully I can get the job done in the final day as I am really excited to start next season on the European Tour.

“Tomorrow is going to be a really interesting day. It will be the biggest day of my career so hopefully I can play well.”

Lindell, who has need a special release from mandatory military service back in Finland, needs a top-two result to earn his card for next week and, undoubtedly, a tricky conversation with his army superiors.

As the European Tour calculates, it will be a nerve jangling day for the likes of Jens Dantorp, who is projected to occupy the 15th and final European Tour spot. The Swede experienced last gasp disappointment in Oman 12 months ago, after a closing bogey scuppered his late charge for a top 15 spot.

Scott Fernandez’s blemish-free third round of 68 has lifted the Spaniard into a share of fourth and he is the most likely man to threaten Dantorp’s place – currently there are fewer than 2,000 points separating them in positions 15 and 16 in the projected rankings.

Here’s the projected standings going into the final round:

Scotsman Bradley Neil was another to lift himself back into contention with a third round 70. After starting the week 16th, Bradley is down to 18th but will come out swinging in more ways than one on Saturday.

Thursday’s front runner Goya was going along nicely till a frustrating double-bogey on the 15^th saw him slip down the leaderboard into third. However, the Argentine remains optimistic. 

“I played really well to be honest,” said Goya after a round of 72. “I had really good opportunities and had really good putts that just didn’t go in. Overall I’m really happy with my round and am enjoying myself.”

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