Thriston Lawrence three clear ahead of European Masters final ro

Thriston Lawrence will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters as he bids to claim his second DP World Tour title of the season.

After putting the finishing touches to his second round on Saturday morning following Friday's weather delay, Lawrence went into the third round one shot off the lead held by Alejandro Canizares.

He then made two birdies and a single bogey on the front side before adding three more gains and dropping one further shot on the back nine to reach 17 under par.

Lawrence, playing this event for the first time, goes into Sunday's fourth round with a three-shot cushion over Matt Wallace after the Englishman closed his 68 with back-to-back birdies.

Scotland's Scott Jamieson and England's Richard Mansell were then in a tie for third on 13 under, with Canizares among those another shot further back.

South African Lawrence was the first winner of the DP World Tour era at the Joburg Open in November after that event was reduced to 36 holes.

He said: "I'm happy with the way I played, played very solid, made a few clutch putts here and there.

"I'm confident going into tomorrow, but (there is) a lot of golf to be played, just stick to the process, stick to the game plan and enjoy it."

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