Fraser & Wiegele share third round lead

Australian Marcus Fraser and Austria's Martin Wiegele had contrasting finishes, but are tied for the lead after the third round of the Russian Open on Saturday.

Fraser, who has won twice on the secondary Challenge Tour since June, bogeyed two of the last three holes to record a four-under par 68, while Wiegele birdied the last two holes for a 67.

The pair are on 15-under-par 201, one stroke ahead of Britain's David Ryles, who shot a four-under round of 68 that included an eagle on the par-five 15th.

Play had been suspended for two hours earlier in the day due to bad weather.

Fraser said poor putting on Saturday had cost him.

"I missed five or six makeable putts and that was the difference at the end of the day," said the 25-year-old Fraser. "They were two costly bogeys and could prove very expensive, but leading is still a good position to be in."

Wiegele, who is playing his first European Tour event -- the tournament is co-sanctioned with the Challenge Tour -- said he had made a nervous start but wanted to continue when play was suspended.

"I made two birdies to get back after a nervous start so I wanted to continue but I still got back into it with my second birdie-birdie finish," said the Austrian.

Ryles made four birdies in the first 10 holes but then had back-to-back bogey fives on 12 and 13 before he stormed back into contention with a 40-foot eagle putt on 15.

"I wasn't playing very well before the suspension so when we came back I knew I had to do something and the eagle on 15 was massive," said Ryles.

Pre-tournament favourite Andrew Coltart, the highest ranked player on Europe's money-list in Russia at 30th, is four strokes off the lead, tied for fourth with Spain's Jose Manuel Carriles.

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