Nacho Elvira taking 6-shot lead into final round of Wales Open

Nacho Elvira of Spain chips on to the green at the 1st hole during the Malaysia Golf Championship 2nd Round in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, March 22, 2019. (Vincent Phoon/AP)

NEWPORT, Wales — Nacho Elvira will take a six-shot lead into the final round of the Wales Open after a 5-under-par 66 put him in control at 16 under on Saturday.

"It's a good feeling,'' he said. "But to be honest, I don't care at the moment. I struggled a bit the last year, year-and-a-half, not with form but it's golf - mentally, a little bit physically, battling with an injury. I'm happy playing golf again and being in the moment. To be in contention is a gift.''

The Spaniard has not had a top 10 in more than two years and arrived at Celtic Manor having made just two of his last 11 cuts. Elvira bogeyed the first hole after starting with a two-shot advantage but responded with birdies on the second, fifth, ninth, 11th, 14th and 17th.

England's Callum Shinkwin matched the lowest round of the week with a 63 on day three but may need to repeat that feat if he is to have a chance of reining in the leader, who is looking for his first win on the European Tour.

Shinkwin used his distance to take advantage of the four par-5s and the drivable par-4 15th, with a 30-foot putt on the l7th bringing one of his three other gains.

American Chase Hanna, South African Justin Harding and Finn Mikko Korhonen were alongside Shinkwin at 10 under, a shot clear of another Englishman in Sam Horsfield.

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