Golf: Brown poised to pounce in Portugal

Kiwi Mark Brown is four strokes behind leader Paul Broadhurst heading into the final round of the Portugal Open. Photo / AP

New Zealand golfer Mark Brown is primed to produce his best result since becoming a fully fledged member of the European Tour.

He ended the third round of the Portugal Open at Cascais today four strokes behind the leader, Englishman Paul Broadhurst.

Brown posted a two-under-par 69 today to improve four places to three-under 210, a position he shares with seven others on a congested leaderboard.

Broadhurst is gunning for his third win in the tournament and will start the closing round with a one-shot buffer ahead of compatriot David Lynn, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber.

Brown has had a quiet start to his first full season on the European circuit, with a best result to date being his 39th placing in the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

He earned his European spurs a year ago by winning the tri-sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic in India, just one week after winning the first title of his professional career in the Asian Tour's Sail Open.

- NZPA