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Karlsson holds commanding lead heading into final round

14/09/2008

Sweden's Robert Karlsson holds a commanding three-shot lead heading into the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.

Despite an incident at the second hole which led to a double-bogey, Karlsson added to his overnight lead by carding a third round of four-under-par to put himself on 12-under for the tournament.

The Swede thought he had scored a 67 but Tour referee Andy McFee reviewed television replays that showed Karlsson's ball move when he grounded his putter on the second green. That resulted in a one shot penalty and turned his bogey into a double-bogey.

However, seven birdies during his round helped the 39-year-old stay on top of the leaderboard. He could even have stretched his lead further but for a bogey on the 18th green.

Karlsson admitted the errors on the second and 18th holes had cost him a little but was still pleased to have any kind of lead heading into the final round.

He said: "Obviously it would be great to have a seven shot lead, but it's not. So I'll just go out and try to keep doing what I'm doing, and that's what I'm here for.

"I would have been happy with a one shot lead, as well."

Karlsson leads Jean-Francois Lucquin and Francesco Molinari who are both on nine-under-par. Molinari carded an error-free round of 65 to catapult himself up the leaderboard on day three.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell is among a group of five players still in contention on seven-under-par.

English Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher and compatriot Richard Finch are also in the group with Campbell.