VIENNA, July 27, 2012 (AFP) - Olesen matched his second-round score of 68 from Thursday, but fell shy of the blistering 64 he had carded Wednesday to match the course record on the par-72 at Atzenbrugg, near Vienna.
Rikard Karlberg of Sweden came next on the leader board at 13 under after shooting a 66 for his third round, followed by the quartet of England's Richard Bland, France's Benjamin Hebert and Thomas Levet, and local hero Bernd Wiesberger.
Hebert, who had gotten off to a slow start with an opening round of 72, matched Olesen and the course record Friday with a 64.
Levet, who had been second overnight, had an uneven front nine but managed to hold on for a share of third place.
Olesen's co-leader from the first round, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, managed to battle back to eight under par overall -- putting him in 14th place -- after suffering a difficult second day that saw him hit two over par before the weather forced him inside after nine holes.
Friday was the first day of the tournament to finish without a weather interruption. Rain drenched the opening day Wednesday, forcing a suspension of three hours and 40 minutes, and organisers called off play Thursday over fears of lightning.
Collated third round scores in the Austrian Open on Friday:
(Britain and Ireland unless otherwise stated)
(Par-72)
200 - Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 64-68-68
203 - Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 70-67-66
204 - Benjamin Hebert (FRA) 72-68-64, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 71-66-67, Thomas Levet (FRA) 65-70-69, Richard Bland 69-67-68
206 - Oliver Wilson 68-70-68, Shane Lowry 70-68-68
207 - Wade Ormsby (AUS) 71-69-67, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 70-69-68, Chris Doak 73-66-68, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 70-68-69
208 - Steven O'Hara 71-70-67, Damien McGrane 71-69-68, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 64-76-68, Scott Jamieson 71-67-70
209 - Robert-Jan Derksen (NED) 72-68-69, David McKenzie (AUS) 65-74-70, Wil Besseling (NED) 65-72-72
210 - Chris Wood 71-69-70, David Drysdale 71-69-70
211 - Thomas Norret (DEN) 69-72-70, Taco Remkes (NED) 70-71-70, Peter Hedblom (SWE) 70-70-71, Niclas Fasth (SWE) 69-70-72, Rafa Echenique (ARG) 73-71-67, Daniel Denison 69-70-72