Other Tours

Charl Schwartzel birdied the 18th to give himself a one shot lead over Ricardo Gonzalez at the top of the Madrid Masters leaderboard after three rounds at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

South African Schwartzel - who led with Marcus Fraser on nine under overnight - hit a four under par 67 to go 14 under for the tournament.

But Argentine Gonzalez produced a blistering nine under par 62 to sit a shot behind in second on 13 under par.

Schwartzel gained shots at the fourth and fifth before an eagle at the 540 yard par five seventh.

He birdied the eighth but dropped a shot at the par three ninth to reach the turn in 32.

Schwartzel - who admitted to feeling unwell yesterday - dropped another shot at the 12th but birdies at the par five 14th and the 18th ensure he will lead going into tomorrow’s final round.

"I didn't feel very strong this morning but I felt I ground it out nicely today," said Schwartzel, who carded 69 and 64 in his first two rounds.

"I felt very weak and slept very badly last night but I felt better and better as the day progressed.

"Thankfully my shoulder is fine now after the physio treated it last night, but I still felt ill and got some medication from the doctor."

Asked if he may feel under pressure tomorrow, knowing Gonzalez had shot such a low score, Schwartzel replied: "62 is a great score, and tomorrow we'll have a good battle.

"I will try to do the same as the last three days and stick to my game plan. I'm hitting the ball well and I'm confident in my swing.

"I've got a good chance tomorrow."

Gonzalez gave little sign of what was to come with a steady outward 35, with only one birdie at the fourth.

But the Argentine exploded into life at the turn with birdies at the tenth and 11th.

He parred the 442 yard 12th but finished with six threes in a row, including one at the par five 14th and four birdies to come back in just 27.

Gonzalez, 38, was still struggling to take in his whirlwind back nine which put him in strong contention.

"I was one under after nine and thought to myself ‘I need a few more birdies’ - but to shoot nine under is unbelievable," he said.

"The key, I think, was my drive on ten. From there, I felt more confident. My putting was also very good on the last seven or eight holes.

"Spain is like a second home, and I feel very good here. I'll feel a little bit of pressure tomorrow but I'll try to make a good score again and play well.

"I will just play golf and enjoy it - that's the only thing I can do."

Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal produced one of the best rounds of the week to move through the field and end the day in third place on 11 under par.

Larrazabal’s nine under round of 62 started with an eagle at the par five fourth which got the Open de France ALSTOM winner off to a good start.

He bogeyed the next but back to back birdies at the seventh and eighth took him to the turn in 33.

He started the back nine with a birdie at the 411 yard tenth and followed that with three consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 15th.

He then picked up shots at both the 167 yard par three 17th and the 361 yard 18th.

Australia’s Andrew Tampion, England’s Paul Waring and Larrazabal’s compatriot Carlos Del Moral are tied for fourth on ten under.

Spain’s Del Moral produced six birdies and two bogeys in a four under par 67, Tampion stormed round in 65 including a five under par front nine 31 and Waring hit his second successive 67.