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Danish duo lead Mercedes-Benz Championship

15/09/2007

Danish pair Thomas Bjorn and Soren Hansen shared the lead at 12-under-par after the end of the third round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Cologne, Germany today.

Bjorn shot a round of five-under-par 66 to reach the top of the leaderboard, but Hansen should have been clear of the chasing pack after he let a three-shot lead slip.

The 33-year-old headed into the last three holes on 15-under-par, but instead of increasing his lead Hansen bogeyed holes 16, 17, and 18 to finish as tied leader.

Hansen may have slipped up towards the end of the round, but Bjorn paid tribute to his compatriot and was hopeful that this year's championship will have a Danish winner.

"Soren is a huge talent," said Bjorn. "He has sorted his putting out this summer, which was always the weak part of his game.

"I've always pushed him harder and harder to make him realise how big a talent he is. All he needs to do is win another tournament. I hope tomorrow it's me winning, but if not me, then Soren."

Scotsman Alastair Forsyth followed up his excellent second-round 67 with a superb round of 62 today, and he moved up to second spot on 11-under-par.

"It was one of those days where I gave myself lots of chances and took pretty much of all them," said Forsyth.

"On the 14th I hit my second shot well right but it took a couple of lucky bounces down to three feet for a birdie.

"But apart from that I did keep hitting it close and putted a lot better - my putting has been pretty poor this year," Forsyth added.

First-round leader Lee Westwood is still in contention on 10-under-par and he is joined on the same score by fellow Englishman Simon Khan.