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CRANS MONTANA, Switzerland: Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez opened up a three-stroke lead over Ryder Cup teammate Edoardo Molinari after three rounds of the European Masters on Saturday.
The 46-year-old, who carded a 27-year career low 61 in the second round, showed no sign of letting up on Saturday by adding a three under par 68 to stand at 17 under par after 54 holes on 196.
At one stage, it looked as if Jimenez would have gone into Sunday's final round with a four-stroke lead, but he was penalised a shot at the 10th hole after forgetting that placing was allowed only on the sixth.
"It's a pity," said Jimenez. "I marked it and picked it up like it is preferred lies. Then I thought 'what are you doing?'"
Molinari, who was a Ryder Cup wildcard pick after winning the Johnnie Walker Championship last weekend at Gleneagles, hit a 68 at the European Tour/Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament.
His 17-year-old Italian compatriot Matteo Manassero, the first round leader, and England's Steve Webster share third place, one shot further back.
Europe Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will be buoyed by the form of the two leading men here after seeing a run of title successes for members of his team.
Germany's Martin Kaymer lifted his first major at the US PGA Championship, a victory followed by Sweden's Peter Hanson at the Czech Open and Molinari's triumph at Gleneagles.
Jimenez, playing at this Alpine resort for the 22nd successive time, birdied four of the first eight holes.
But after the blunder on the tenth he also bogeyed the 12th and 14th before hitting back with birdies on the par five next and the 402 yard last, where he sank a 20 footer.
Molinari is hoping to make it back-to-back wins before he takes three weeks off to rest and then prepare for his Ryder Cup debut alongside his brother Francesco.
He hit his tee shot on the par four seventh to within six feet of the flag.
He missed the eagle putt, birdied the next two as well to be out in 32.
His only problem was a four at the short 13th - his only bogey of the tournament so far.
Asia's top player was South Korea's Noh Seung-yul who charged into a share of seventh place with a four-under-par 67.
That helped him maintain his edge over closest pursuer Marcus Fraser of Australia in the Asian Tour's Order of Merit race.
The 19-year-old Noh fired an eagle, six birdies and four bogeys while Fraser, who trails the Korean in the Order of Merit, carded a 68 to lie two shots back.
After swapping two birdies against two bogeys on his outward nine, Noh showed why he is one of Asia's rising stars with a scintillating back nine which included four birdies and one eagle for a three-day total of nine-under-par 204, eight shots behind Jimenez.
"It's not important to be in the lead now as there are many more big prize money events coming up at the end of the year," said Noh. - AFP/fa
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