Jacobson holds on to narrow advantage

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson battled to a level-par 71 in near-perfect conditions to earn a one-shot lead after the Scottish Open's third round on Saturday.

The 27-year-old, who was four clear overnight, offset three birdies with three dropped shots to finish at 11-under-par 202 at a sunny Loch Lomond.

Jacobson -- whose five second-place finishes on the European Tour are the most by a player yet to win -- was two ahead with two holes to play after he had birdied the par-five 13th and the 415-yard 15th.

But he missed a par-putt from under four feet at the 205-yard 17th to slip back and did well to hole out from five feet to save his part at the par-four 18th.

"I had a good chance to move away from the field today but at least I'm still leading, which is a new experience for me," said the Swede.

"I was relieved to make my par putt at the last after missing from three and a half feet on 17.

"I felt my long game was up for it today but my putting didn't go as well as the first two days."

Argentina's Eduardo Romero, who birdied the last two holes for a 65, was second at 10-under 203 with England's Justin Rose (68) and Australian Stephen Leaney (67) a further stroke back in a tie for third.

FIRST TITLE

It was not a day to remember though for Sandy Lyle, who began the round just four shots behind Jacobson and convinced that he could win his first title in 10 years.

The 44-year-old Scot struggled to find his rhythm, crashing to a four-over-par 75 that included double-bogeys at the 13th and the short 17th and ending up in a share of 25th place at three-under 210.

"I putted really well today, and yesterday also," said the 47-year-old Romero, who has five top-10 finishes from only 10 starts to lie 17th on the European order of merit.

"In fact, I've played well all year. My confidence is good and my game has been fantastic.

"I really want another win and I am going to be trying my best this year and the next before I retire and go to the U.S. Senior's Tour," added the mustachioed Argentinean who has won seven titles in Europe.

Rose, the winner of four titles worldwide this year, was happy to be in contention after bogeying the ninth and 10th holes.

"I'm close to my best game at the moment and I seem to enjoy being on the leaderboard," said the 20-year-old, who finished well with three birdies on the second nine.

"I wanted to get to nine-under and I'm only two back. I've won tournaments from further this year -- from four back at the Dunhill Championship (in Johannesburg) and three back at Woburn (at last month's British Masters).

GOOD MEMORIES

"You've just got to hang in tough and I've got good memories to draw from."

England's Warren Bennett had reeled off four successive birdies after the turn to move into a share of the lead with five holes to play.

Bennett, who began the day six strokes behind Jacobson, drew level with the Swede at 10-under when he collected his sixth birdie of the round at the 560-yard 13th.

But the 1999 Scottish PGA champion then lost ground, bogeying the 14th and the last on his way to a 68 and a share of fifth at eight-under with New Zealand's Michael Campbell.

Campbell, who won last week's European Open despite dropping shots at the last four holes, was delighted with his third-round 66.

"Today was probably the best round I have played for the last two or three months," said the 32-year-old.

"My mindset is very confident and I feel comfortable with my swing -- all good things for tomorrow and for next week (the British Open at Muirfield)."

There is more than just the title to play for on Sunday as the top eight finishers at Loch Lomond not already exempt for next week's British Open will qualify for Muirfield.

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