Fitzpatrick swings into the lead

DEFENDING champion Matt Fitzpatrick fired a brilliant 63 to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

The Englishman was one of the contenders left disappointed when European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn selected his wild cards on Wednesday but he showed no ill effects in Crans-Montana, charging to 14 under with a bogey-free effort.

Frenchman Mike LorenzoVera was his nearest challenger, with England’s Daniel Brooks one of five players in a group four shots off the lead.

A victory for Fitzpatrick on Sunday would see him become the first man to successfully defend the title since the great Seve Ballesteros in 1978 and his record at Crans-sur-Sierre is formidable, with eight scores of 65 or lower in 17 rounds. Matt Fitzpatrick of England

The 24-year-old sandwiched a long putt on the fifth with smart approaches into the second and sixth and when he holed a chip for eagle on the short par-four seventh, he led by three.

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 and then rolled home a 40-foot putt on the last to re-establish a cushion.

“It was really, really good,” he told europeantour.com. “I would say that everything went well today. I drove it really solid and made some great up-anddowns which has been a bit of a struggle this season to keep the round going. There were some real key ones today and that was the difference. It kept the momentum and I managed to kick on.

“He (Ballesteros) is a good man to emulate, so hopefully things go to plan tomorrow.”

Dane Lucas Bjerregaard, American Doug Ghim, South African Haydn Porteous and China’s Wu Ashun were alongside Brooks at 10 under, while Close House pro Lee Westwood was on seven under after round of 68, 69 and 66.