• Italian Open, Round Three

Solid Rock continues to lead the way in Italy

Robert Rock is hunting a maiden European Tour crown © Getty Images

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• News: Rock rolls past rivals to clinch victory
  
• News: Home favourite Molinari stakes his claim with a 68
  
• News: Rock and Wood in front as Manassero starts well
  
• Profile: Matteo Manassero | Francesco Molinari

Leaderboard

Robert Rock maintained his grip at the top of the leaderboard at the Italian Open after a second successive 68 took him two shots clear of the chasing pack.

The Englishman matched his second round efforts, mixing five birdies with one bogey in another hugely impressive display, leaving him in command on 16-under-par with one round to play.

Playing partner Chris Wood is still among the contenders but he has fallen off the pace as the week has progressed. An opening 64 was followed by a 69, but a third-round 71 highlighted that his game is not as water-tight as it appeared on Thursday, although he is only four shots adrift of Rock.

Sweden's Niclas Fasth hit a fluent 64 to make a timely return to form. The 39-year-old has struggled with his game recently, failing to claim a top ten finish so far this season. His game clicked into gear on day three, however, as he carded four birdies and an eagle in his first 10 holes. He began the back nine in spectacular fashion, picking up four consecutive birdies to catapult up the leaderboard. A solitary bogey, at the 15th, was avoidable but an eight-under round propelled him to 14-under for the week.

"That's my lowest round of the year, which is nice," said Fasth. "I've been struggling a bit and it's good to string a good round together. First and foremost I am in contention for tomorrow but you need to get some scores under your belt and get the confidence up.

"My big moment came in the middle of the round. I got on a nice roll and it was great to be eight under for eight holes from the sixth. I had been struggling with the putter but now I have a chance."

Italian Francesco Molinari is one of five others on 14-under, the home favourite maintaining his fine form with another sub-70 round. An early bogey didn't deter him as he rattled in four birdies to hit the turn in 33. There was less to shout about coming in, when he was more steady than spectacular, but a 68 leaves him well placed to strike on Sunday.

Fellow countryman Matteo Manassero continued to show his enviable talent, the young Italian moving to 12-under after a two-under par 70. As well as the usual glorious iron-play, Manassero also displayed a steely mental edge, recovering from picking up a bogey by replying with an immediate birdie on more than one occasion.

Lee Slattery appears to be getting to grips with the course, the Englishman shooting his lowest round of the week with an error-free 65. A 67 on Friday followed an opening 71 but his golf improved further on Saturday as a glut of birdies saw him make great strides to end the day on 13-under.

Elsewhere, an albatross couldn't galvanise Steve Webster into action. The Englishman's play of the day occurred at the 11th, his five-wood approach landing 15 feet from the hole and rolling in. Unfortunately, two double bogeys on the front nine meant his later heroics were a little soured but a 71 leaves him in with a chance of glory on the final day, when he will begin on eight-under-par.

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