Fitzpatrick leads by 2 after European Masters 3rd round

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CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — Defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick sank a 40-foot putt for birdie on the 18th to end the European Masters third round on Saturday with a two-shot lead.

The 24-year-old Englishman had five birdies and an eagle in a 7-under 63 for a 14-under total of 196, two ahead of France's Mike Lorenzo-Vera (64).

Doug Ghim, the American former top-ranked amateur, had a 67 to join a five-man group on 10 under, including Ashun Wu of China who fired a second straight 65.

Matching Fitzpatrick's 63, Gavin Green of Malaysia moved to 9 under.

Overnight leader Hideto Tanihara of Japan is six shots behind Fitzpatrick after a 1-over 71. Only two players on the leaderboard top 20 failed to break par on a sun-soaked 6,848-yard course in the thin Swiss Alps air.