Scarpa hoping to close out another Italian win

Italian Massimo Scarpa, hoping to emulate compatriot Costantino Rocca, led the North West of Ireland Open by one shot after Saturday's third round.

Former Ryder Cup player Rocca won the inaugural event in Galway last year and Scarpa kept up his hopes of an Italian double with five birdies and one bogey during a four-under-par round of 68.

That gave him an 11-under-par total of 205, one ahead of Ireland's Gary Murphy and Swedes Mikael Lundberg and Olle Karlsson.

The event is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Challenge Tour, with the winner earning a 12-month exemption on the main tour.

Murphy, who shot 70, is looking to become the first Irish player since 1982 to clinch a European Tour event on Irish soil.

Lundberg hit 67, one better than Karlsson.

Scotland's Ross Drummond, hoping to regain his European Tour card after losing it last season, birdied two of the final three holes to tie for fourth, two strokes off the lead.

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