Nordea Masters: Chris Wood edges into one-shot lead after 68

Chris Wood will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Nordea Masters as Jamie Donaldson faltered on day three in Malmo.

Wood fired a second straight five-under 68 to claim sole possession of the lead on nine under ahead of Benjamin Hebert and Renato Paratore, while Donaldson's good form of the first two days deserted him as he struggled to a 75 to slip three off the pace.

Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick is four behind his Ryder Cup team-mate after a 71, while BMW PGA champion Alex Noren will need something similar to his astonishing final-round 62 at Wentworth after also carding a 71 to close on three under.

Wood was a disappointing 49th on his defence of his BMW PGA crown last week, but he put himself on course for immediate atonement with an excellent seven-birdie round as conditions remained cool and blustery at Barseback.

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The tall Bristolian started with a confident birdie and raced into contention when he picked up four shots in five holes around the turn, and another gain at the long 16th lifted him to 10 under before he took a little gloss off his round with his second bogey of the day at the last after he bunkered his approach.

Chris Wood fired a second consecutive 68 to open up a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Nordea Masters at Barseback Golf and Country Club.

"It felt like quite an easy 68 for me," said Wood, who is without a victory since claiming the biggest win of his career at Wentworth last year. "I was four behind JD to start with and I've more than closed the gap. That's all I was looking to do today.

"I played lovely last week at Wentworth and lost a lot of shots on the greens. I've done some really good work over the weekend and we're making a bit of progress. It's nice to see a few go in because that gives you a bit of momentum and a bit of confidence.

"It's not been far off all year without showing any results. It's really frustrating because I know some good golf is round the corner. I'll keep doing what I am and the results will come."

Hebert returned a solid four-birdie 70 to ensure a place in Sunday's final group with Wood, while the rapid-fire Paratore battled an errant putter but still managed to keep himself firmly in the hunt for a maiden European Tour win with a 71.

Thorbjorn Olesen appeared set to earn a share of the 54-hole lead with playing partner Wood as the Dane kept pace with the Englishman around the turn, the highlight being a superb second to six feet at the ninth which he converted for eagle.

Olesen then holed from the fringe to start the inward nine with a birdie and he added two more at the 12th and 16th either side of a bogey at 14, but a wayward strike at the last resulted in a lost ball and a double-bogey six which saw him drop back to seven under.

Donaldson had dropped only one shot over the first 36 holes, but he struggled for rhythm early on the third day and bogeyed the third and fourth before getting both shots back at seven and nine to return to eight under.

But the Welsh veteran carded further bogeys at the 12th and 14th and parred in to remain in a tie for fifth with young English talent Max Orrin (72) and Jeunghun Wang (70), with Fitzpatrick, Alexander Levy and Jose-Felipe Lima completing the top 10.