Fitzpatrick on course for second European title

STOCKHOLM: England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick kept his head to see off a triple challenge and extend his lead to five shots after three rounds of the Nordea Masters in Stockholm yesterday.

The overnight leader, who started the day three clear, had been pegged back by the midway point at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, but played a superb back nine to record a four-under-par 68 and move to 15 under.

Defending champion Alex Noren, of Sweden, who shot 67, and Nicolas Colsaerts (70) were Fitzpatrick’s closest challengers.

Belgian Colsaerts had wiped out Fitzpatrick’s overnight advantage by the mid-point of his round, holing three birdies to match the Briton’s 11-underpar at the turn.

But their fortunes changed on the first of the back nine, Colsaerts dropping a shot while his playing partner made birdie. Then, at the par-five 13th, the 21-year-old Fitzpatrick, who claimed his first European Tour victory in the British Masters last October, conjured up a brilliant recovery, while Colsaerts missed his par putt after finding the water.

England’s Lee Westwood, a former world No 1, failed to make a move and remained five under after his third round included a double-bogey in a 72.

Swede Henrik Stenson, the world number six, picked up two shots to card a 70 and finish on four under.

Jaco Ahlers carded a fiveunder-par 67 on day three of the Zambia Open to open up a two-shot lead from overnight leader Jacques Blaauw.

The round of the day came from Ruan de Smidt, after the 27-year-old carded an impressive eight-under-par 64, which included an eagle on the parfour 18th.

De Smidt’s round of 64 leaves him one stroke off Blaauw on 13-under-par for the tournament, in an aggressive game plan that has reaped its rewards. – Reuters