But after firing seven birdies and no bogeys in ideal conditions on Friday, the 21-year-old from Sheffield found himself with a three-shot lead over former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, with France’s Thomas Linard another stroke back.
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The 2011 tournament victor Noren (67) had three birdies in his first seven holes, while Colsaerts (70) turned in an opening 33.
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick has claimed his second European Tour title after winning the Nordea Masters by three shots on Sunday.
Colsaerts responded with a birdie from close range on the sixth, where playing partner Lasse Jensen holed from 152 yards for an eagle, before holing from 18 feet for eagle on the par-five ninth.
“I started off great then could not make many putts, lost my swing around the turn, got a bit frustrated and did not hit a green for about two hours. I felt like today was the round were I would be under the most pressure”, said Fitzpatrick, who bogeyed the final hole.
“I was keeping an eye on where I needed to get to but I was just taking one hole at a time and I was so zoned in to my own game, I didn’t know what was going on around me half the time”.
Jensen closed with a four-under 68 that included two eagles to seal second place – his best finish on the European Tour – and earn a spot at The Open at Royal Troon in July. “Everyone will probably laugh when I say it but I missed a couple of chances on 13 and 14, so roll those in and all of a sudden you are nine under, but I just putted really solidly and played well overall”.
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Sweden’s Henrik Stenson had the lowest round of the day at Bro Hof Slott with a closing 66 to finish in a tie for fourth with local favourite Bjorn Hellgren (67) at 10 under.
