British Masters: Alex Noren leads Richard Bland after third round

15 October 2016

British Masters third-round leaderboard
-16 A Noren (Swe); -13 R Bland (Eng); -12 T Fleetwood (Eng), R Sterne (SA), B Wiesberger (Aus), P Hanson (Swe).
Selected others: -11 L Westwood (Eng); -10 G McDowell (N Irl); -9 S Jamieson (Scot), M Warren (Scot).

Sweden's Alex Noren takes a three-stroke lead into the final round of the British Masters after carding an impressive third-round 65.

Noren, 34, began the day one shot behind overnight leader Richard Bland before posting a round of six under par to take control at The Grove.

Bland is in second after a round that included two bogeys and four birdies.

Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, part of a four-way tie after the first day, is joint third.

"I know from experience that it's not that easy to hold leads," said Noren, who won the European Masters in Switzerland last month.

Bland is still hopeful he can end the week with the main prize.

"I said to my caddie, if that's our worst day and we shoot 69, we should be in with a good shout tomorrow depending on what Alex does," he said.

England's Lee Westwood is five off the lead, while Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell is a further shot behind.

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