FRASER LEADS BY ONE AFTER THREE ROUNDS OF ITALIAN OPEN

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Marcus Fraser will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the 70° Open d’Italia LINDT, determined to spoil Francesco Molinari’s bid to win his national open around the course where he learned to play the game.

The Australian posted a third round of four under 68 to move to 11 under par and establish a one stroke lead over home hero Molinari, his Ryder Cup team mate Nicolas Colsaerts and Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren at Circolo Golf Torino.

Molinari carded a one under 71 to move into that three way tie on ten under, and the Italian is hoping to go out all guns blazing I the final round as he looks to add a second Italian Open title to his CV, having won the tournament in Milan in 2006.

“I just need a couple of those putts to drop at the right time and if I can get a few putts to drop early then we will see what happens,” said Molinari. 

“I probably need to be a little bit more aggressive tomorrow with my approaches to the greens but I will be giving it everything to try and win. The support I have had has been unbelievable and I have never seen crowds like this in Italy – it has been so good to see that and hopefully everyone can have a good day tomorrow.”

Fraser, and the other leading contenders, are aware that they will be going up against a man carrying the hopes and dreams of a nation in the final round, but they are determined to spoil the party. 

“I have a great chance,” said Fraser. “It is an exciting position to be in and I feel like my game is in good shape and I am playing a course that I love so I just need to go out there and play my own game as I have done for the first three rounds.

“That will be difficult with Francesco just one shot behind and with the crowd willing him over the line, but I just have to play my game and try and spoil the party I suppose.” 

Colsaerts felt his third round 71 could have been better but is hoping he is saving the best till last.

“It felt like I had a good one in me but maybe I am saving it for tomorrow,” smiled the Belgian. “It has been a while since I have been up there and it certainly gets my juices flowing. I have always played well in Italy – it must be the pasta or something – so I am looking forward to getting out there.” 

Lagergren is the least experienced of the men at the top of the leaderboard, but, after back-to-back rounds of 67 the Swede has certainly earned his chance to secure a maiden European Tour win.

“If I can put in a good score tomorrow then we will see what happens,” he said. “I have been in this position a couple of times now and hopefully I can handle it well.” 

Chris Doak is the leading Scot on 210 - five shots behind the leader.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

205 M Fraser (Aus) 66 71 68

206 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 65 71 70, F Molinari (Ita) 68 67 71, J Lagergren (Swe) 72 67 67

207 F Aguilar (Chi) 69 66 72, S Thornton (Irl) 68 67 72

208 R Gonzalez (Arg) 65 73 70, H Otto (RSA) 71 67 70

209 R Wattel  (Fra) 71 72 66, M Manassero (Ita) 70 70 69, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 68 71, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 69 72 68, M Kieffer (Ger) 65 72 72, D Higgins (Irl) 67 69 73, S Hend (Aus) 72 71 66, S Webster (Eng) 67 69 73, R Paratore (am) (Ita) 72 66 71

210 E Grillo (Arg) 70 72 68, M Foster (Eng) 74 65 71, J Edfors (Swe) 69 70 71, F Zanotti (Par) 71 70 69, A Cañizares  (Esp) 71 67 72, S Benson (Eng) 68 70 72, J Van Zyl (RSA) 70 69 71, C Doak (Sco) 74 67 69

211 M Carlsson  (Swe) 72 71 68, S Jamieson  (Sco) 72 69 70, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 67 71, J Campillo (Esp) 68 73 70, R Finch  (Eng) 68 74 69, M Baldwin (Eng) 71 68 72, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 73 68, R Derksen (Ned) 71 69 71, A Quiros  (Esp) 71 67 73

212 E Kofstad (Nor) 70 69 73, D Drysdale (Sco) 69 72 71, J Hansen  (Den) 68 74 70

213 G Orr (Sco) 73 68 72, K Broberg (Swe) 70 73 70, R Allenby (Aus) 71 72 70, J Olazábal (Esp) 71 68 74, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 70 73, R Ramsay  (Sco) 75 68 70, M Nixon (Eng) 70 69 74, M Madsen  (Den) 72 71 70,

214 A Levy (Fra) 70 72 72, J Ruth  (Eng) 69 72 73, O Floren  (Swe) 71 72 71, S Khan (Eng) 73 70 71, L Slattery (Eng) 70 73 71, M Grönberg (Swe) 71 70 73, J Walters (RSA) 70 73 71, J Kingston (RSA) 68 71 75, A Tadini (Ita) 72 71 71, T Aiken (RSA) 69 71 74, G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 71 70 73, A Hartø  (Den) 69 74 71, G Storm  (Eng) 70 71 73, M Tullo (Chi) 70 70 74,

215 P Whiteford (Sco) 73 68 74, S Dyson  (Eng) 69 74 72, G Mulroy (RSA) 71 72 72, D Howell (Eng) 71 72 72, D Horsey (Eng) 72 70 73,

216 R Goosen (RSA) 70 72 74, B Åkesson (Swe) 72 69 75, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 72 73, D McGrane (Irl) 71 69 76, R McEvoy  (Eng) 73 70 73,

217 J Lucquin (Fra) 71 72 74, T Lewis (Eng) 70 72 75, G Boyd  (Eng) 74 69 74,

220 P Erofejeff (Fin) 74 69 77, E Lipparelli (am) (Ita) 69 73 78,

221 E Goya (Arg) 69 72 80