Raphael Jacquelin stretches lead to seven shots

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin shot his third seven-under-par 64 of the week to take a seven-stroke lead into Sunday's Madrid Open final round as he aims for his maiden European Tour title.

Despite missing three putts inside five feet, Jacquelin forged to 21-under-par 192 to lead playing-partner Darren Clarke of Britain (68) and Portuguese Jose-Filipe Lima (67) with 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie of Britain (66) a further stroke back.

Having also shot 64s in the second and third rounds at the same Club de Campo venue last year when finishing fourth, Jacquelin has now produced that score five times in his last six rounds in the Spanish capital.

The 31-year-old Frenchman has the label of best player on the European Tour not to have won after finishing second four times, including taking runner-up spot in the Indonesia Open earlier in the season.

It is a label he hopes to lose on Sunday.

After holing a 25ft putt on the 18th for his eighth birdie, Jacquelin said: "I've been on top of leaderboards before a few times but never by seven shots.

"I've got a few to play with and I intend to just relax and enjoy the finish.

"I could have been a few more under par if I hadn't missed the short putts but the key to me doing so well is because I'm rolling the ball so well on the greens and I only missed one fairway today."

Joint second-placed Clarke has not given up hope of overtaking the Frenchman.

Clarke said: "He was unbelievably good and 64 was the very worst he could have shot. But strange things can happen in a final round. I know. I lost after leading by six myself."

In 1999, Clarke led the European Open by six strokes going into the final round but lost out to Lee Westwood.

After looking in danger of missing the cut on Friday, Colin Montgomerie made further progress with a 65 to share 11th place, 11 strokes behind Jacquelin.

While Montgomerie does not believe he can catch Jacquelin he is intent on earning as big a prize as he can to add to the $150,000 he leads Michael Campbell by on top of the order of merit with just the Volvo Masters to come for Europe's top two.

"Who knows, the order of merit might come down to what I earn here," said Montgomerie, eyeing his eighth money-list success if he can hold off the U.S. Open champion.

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