Romero moves eight clear with 62

Veteran Eduardo Romero left the European Masters field in his wake on Saturday with a third round nine-under-par 62.

That left the 46-year-old Argentine on 19 under, eight strokes ahead of Northern Irishman Darren Clarke who made only one mistake in a 67.

But Clarke could not match his playing partner Romero who ran in his second eagle two of the week, added another eagle and collected five birdies.

His exhilarating display earned him the new Seve Ballesteros-revamped course record, beating by a stroke the 63 set by Scot Dean Robertson earlier in the day.

Only Tiger Woods has bettered Romero's score this year in European-tour counting events. Woods carded 61 in the recent world golf championship NEC event.

Romero is on course to match the feat of his compatriot and mentor Vicente Fernandez who won the English Open in 1992 at the age of 46, the oldest player in recent times to win on the European Tour.

"I remember Vicente did somersaults when he won but I'm not sure I can manage that," joked Romero when reminded about Fernandez's win at The Belfry in England.

"But I must not think about winning yet. Eight strokes is a big advantage but I have to keep my concentration because the tournament is not finished yet.

"I was another person out there today to the one who played the day before. This time I didn't see anybody, friends, players, no one. I focused on the ball and the flag.

Romero's last win of six in Europe came in this event but the way he played his third round showed that age is not wearying him.

He began with a birdie and then holed out with a wedge from 145 yards at the second, picking up another eagle on the ninth when he ripped a drive 330 yards and hit a second shot 285 yards to just seven feet.

"The shots were unbelievable," said Romero, "some of the best of my life."

Clarke tried to stay with him as he made eagle on the first and collected a similar eight threes in the round, including three birdies. But he dropped a shot at the 16th.

Swiss Paolo Quirici held second place by going out in 29 but he faded by coming home in 37 and missing a two-foot putt on the last to share third spot on 204 with in-form Welshman Phillip Price.

Dane Thomas Bjorn and Sweden's Mathias Gronberg, another former winner, are a stroke further back but defending champion Lee Westwood had a nightmare round.

The order of merit leader ran up three double-bogeys in a 74 to fall back to 209 and can now be overhauled in the rankings by Clarke.

Six-times major champion Nick Faldo, looking for a rich haul of Ryder Cup points in Europe's first-counting event, moved up the field with a 66 to go to 208.

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