Dougherty takes two shot lead into last day

Briton Nick Dougherty birdied the three closing holes to take a two-stroke lead on the third day of the Singapore Masters on Saturday.

Dougherty, 22, who is seeking his first European tour victory, added a four-under 68 to earlier scores of 68 and 67.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn are tied in second place on 11-under par after both players bogeyed the par three, 17th hole on the Laguna National course.

Montgomerie carded a 69 while Bjorn recorded a five-under 67 that included a chip-in for an eagle three at the par-five 15th.

Dougherty began the day with a one-stroke lead and maintained his cool in the hot and humid conditions playing with Montgomerie and Bjorn.

"It was great experience today, and one which I will get another go at tomorrow and, if I could think of my first chance to win a tournament, there are not many better players in Europe you would pick in your group than Colin or Thomas," he said.

"Jack Nicklaus said on the first three days you play the course and on the last day you play the man but I am not sure I'll go for that approach.

"I had a great time out there today and I think I had a better time than my playing partners and I think the fact that I am enjoying it is allowing me to play well.

"I've had chances to win before. I was leading in Sweden but there are always circumstances where you learn from your mistakes."

Montgomerie has not yet ruled himself out of contention for the only title he won last year, when he came back from four strokes behind at the start of the closing round to win by three.

"I came from four strokes back last year to win here and there was two players four ahead of me and there is one now and he's just two ahead," he said.

"So I am in a much better position than I was in last year and we'll just see what develops."

Bjorn, 33, is seeking an eighth European tour success, after finishing second and fourth so far this year.

Aside from an eagle, his third round included seven birdies, a bogey and a sixth hole double bogey.

"It had everything but there was a lot of good stuff in there," he said.

"I'm not playing my best but I'm getting it around the golf course as well as I can and the important thing today was not to play yourself out of the golf tournament but to be in with a chance tomorrow."

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