Level-headed Fitzpatrick on course for second European title

The overnight leader, who started the day three clear, had been pegged back by the midway point at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, but played a superb back nine to record a four-under-par 68 and move to 15 under par.

(Reuters)

Defending champion Alex Noren of Sweden, who shot 67, and Nicolas Colsaerts (70) were Fitzpatrick's closest challengers.

Belgian Colsaerts had wiped out Fitzpatrick's overnight advantage by the mid-point of his round, holing three birdies to match the Briton's 11 under par at the turn.

But their fortunes changed on the first of the back nine, Colsaerts dropping a shot while his playing partner made birdie.

Then, at the par-five 13th, the 21-year-old Fitzpatrick, who claimed his first European Tour victory in the British Masters last October, conjured up a brilliant recovery while Colsaerts missed his par putt after finding the water.

England's Lee Westwood, a former world number one, failed to make a move and remained five under after including a double-bogey in a round of 72.

Swede Henrik Stenson, the world number six, picked up two shots to card a 70 and finish on four under.

(Reporting by Neville Dalton, editing by Ed Osmond)