Scott Hend takes one-shot lead at Omega European Masters
Sunday 4 September 2016 19:45, UK
Scott Hend will take a narrow lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters, as Danny Willett’s hopes of a title defence faded in Switzerland.
The Australian fired a five-under 65 at Crans-sur-Sierre to cling on to a narrow advantage over Alex Noren, while Willett struggled on the back nine for the second day running to fall 10 shots off the pace.
Richard Brand leads the English interest three shots back in third, one ahead of Andrew Johnston, while Ryder Cup wildcard pick Lee Westwood sits eight strokes adrift.
Resuming in a three-way tie for the lead alongside Richard Green, Bland and amateur Romain Langasque edged ahead with a birdie-two at the third.
Langasque took the outright advantage with a chip-in at the fifth but gave it back at the next, as Hend moved clear with back-to-back gains from the sixth.
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The Australian, who won earlier in the season at the True Thailand Classic, doubled his lead with a 50-foot birdie at the eighth and went three ahead with a fifth birdie of the day at the 10th.
Noren claimed outright second when he picked up a stroke at the 14th as Bland drove out of bounds and dropped a shot, before the Swede closed the gap on Hend with further birdies at the 15th and 17th.
Hend carded his only blemish of the day at the last to see his lead halved, with Bland sitting in outright third after closing a one-under 69.
A third-round 68 moved Johnston in to four-way tie third on nine under, with early clubhouse leader David Drysdale part of the group a further stroke back.
Fitzpatrick, who was seven over after his first 14 holes on Thursday, posted five birdies on his way to a four-under 66, with defending champion Willett a further stroke after stuttering to an up-and-down 70.
The world No 11 started the day six strokes off the pace but kept in contention with a front-nine 33, only to slide down the leaderboard with bogeys over his next three holes.
Watch the final round of the Omega European Masters live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Sunday from 11am.
