• BMW International Open, Round Three

Fisher impressive but Dredge still leads in Munich

Bradley Dredge takes a three-shot lead into the final round © Getty Images

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England's Ross Fisher shot a second consecutive round of 66 on day three of the BMW International Open to propel himself into second place, but Bradley Dredge remains an outright favourite after going sub-68 for the third straight round on Saturday.

Dredge is chasing his first European Tour win for four years following his triumph at the Omega European Masters in 2006, and he will kick himself if he passes up this opportunity, having amassed a three-shot lead going into the decisive day. The Welshman returned to the clubhouse having carded a five-under-par 67, leaving him on 18-under for the tournament.

After shooting rounds of 64 and 67 ahead of the weekend Dredge got off to the perfect start on Saturday, birdying three of the opening five holes, although he could only par the sixth, which he had eagled the previous day. In all, the 36-year-old carded five birdies in a flawless round of golf.

Fisher, who completed the course in 66 on Friday, threatened to go even better 24 hours later as he reached hole 12 already six-under-par. An eagle at the par-five 11th was where the three-time European Tour winner peaked though, bogeying the 14th before a birdie at the 16th saw him finish three shots off the pace on 15-under.

Locked in a tie with Fisher for second place is Simon Thornton, who shot a five-under 67 to maintain his challenge in Munich. The Irishman mixed six birdies with a solitary bogey to allow Fisher to close the gap.

One stroke further back on 14-under is Paul Lawrie, who will be disappointed after he failed to truly build on an eagle at the sixth. The Scot could only find two more birdies to slip to fourth on the leaderboard, narrowly ahead of England's David Horsey in fifth.

Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal endured a desperately disappointing day, having entered the weekend just one stroke behind Dredge. Bogeys at two, 10 and 11 dented that charge on Saturday as he completed the course for a level-par 72, leaving him tied for eighth place, eight shots off the lead.

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