England’s David Howell will take a one shot lead going into the final round of the Victor Chandler Masters after shooting a four under par 68 today.
Howell had been neck-and-neck with his playing partner Robert Karlsson all day long, that is, until the Swede bogeyed the 459-yard 18th for the second day running - after driving his ball into the trees on the left - to lose a share of the lead en route to a 69.
Howell's 68 sends him into the last day on 15 under par. Frenchman Thomas Levet is four behind in thirdwhile Lee Westwood moved up to joint fourth on 10 under with a 67.Westwood is joined by fellow countryman Malcolm Mackenzie and Sweden’s Mathias Gronberg.
The pre-tournament favourite Colin Montgomerie could only manage a 74 and is now 12 shots adrift.
Three Irish players survived the halfway cut withDarren Clarke the best placed on three under. But the Tyroneman will know it should have been better as he closed with bogeys on the final two holes for a 71.
Des Smyth added a 71 to his brace of opening 72’s to be one under while Eamonn Darcy slipped to four over following a disappointing 77.