Fitz close to Seve record
Matt Fitzpatrick fired a brilliant 63 to take a two-shot lead as he bids to become the first player since Seve Ballesteros to successfully defend the European Masters.
The Englishman was overlooked by European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn as he selected his wild cards on Wednesday.
But the 24- year- old showed no ill effects in Crans-Montana, charging to 14 under with a bogeyfree round.
Frenchman Mi ke Lorenzo- Vera is his nearest challenger, with England’s Daniel Brooks one of five players in a group four shots off the lead.
Dane Lucas Bjerregaard, American Doug Ghim, South African Haydn Porteous and China’s Wu
Ashun were alongside Brooks at 10 under heading into the final round.
A victory for Fitzpatrick today would see him become the first golfer to defend the title since legend Seve in 1978.
And his record at Cranssur- Sierre is formidable, with eight scores of 65 or lower in just 17 rounds.
The Englishman said: “It was really good.
“I would say everything went well today. I drove really solid and made some great up-and-downs which has been a struggle.
“He (Ballesteros) is a good man to emulate so hopefully things go to plan tomorrow.”
Fitzpatrick sandwiched a long putt on the fifth with smart approaches into the second and sixth. When he holed a chip for eagle on the short par-four seventh, his led grew to three shots.
A run of seven pars allowed Lorenzo-Vera to reel him in but Fitzpatrick got up and down from over the back of the par-five 15th then rolled home a 40-foot putt at the last hole to re-establish a cushion.