Poulter pulls three shots clear

England's Ian Poulter remained on course to win the Italian Open - and his maiden tour victory - after a third round 65 in Sardinia.

Poulter, in his debut season, has already secured a precious tour card for next season, unlike most of those battling it out in the last chance event at Is Molas.

The 24-year-old from Hertfordshire began the day just one shot off the lead held by playing partners Elliot Boult of New Zealand and Australian Richard Green.

Boult was the first to make a move with an eagle on the first and two more birdies on the front nine to establish a three-shot cushion at one stage.

However a bogey on the par-three 10th, where he found the lake in front of the green and had to take a penalty drop, allowed the chasing pack to close up and Poulter was quick to take advantage.

After an outward half of 33 with two birdies he picked up another brace of shots on the 12th and 13th, the latter coming after a superb recovery from a fairway bunker set up a chip-in from the edge of the green.

That took Poulter, who is sponsored by a national newspaper, to 15 under alongside Boult at the top of a hugely congested leaderboard.

Scotland's Andrew Oldcorn was a shot behind along with Green, South African Roger Wessels and 1999 Portuguese Open champion Van Phillips.

The clubhouse target had been set by Germany's Thomas Gogele on 13 under after a 65 that saw six birdies in his first six holes while English trio Russell Claydon, Paul Eales and Justin Rose kept alive their chances of retaining their cards.

Claydon fired a 66 to be 10 under, Eales a 69 to be one behind and Rose a 69 to be another shot adrift.

All three need a good finish to get into the top 115 on the money list and avoid a return to the dreaded tour school.

Order of Merit leader Lee Westwood meanwhile was nine under par and facing an uphill battle on Sunday to record a record seventh European Tour win of the season.

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