Poulter opens up two shot lead

Ian Poulter putted his way to a two-shot lead after three rounds of the Ivory Coast Open in Abidjan.

The 23-year-old from Luton birdied the final two holes with monster putts of 35 and 20 feet for a 70 and now stands on the brink of winning his first European Challenge Tour title.

Poulter is on five-under-par 211, two ahead of French duo Marc Pendaries (71) and Sebastien Delagrange (72), and three clear of Simon Wakefield (72) from Stoke.

On another sweltering day in the West African state, Poulter's putter was red hot. He used it only 26 times and after taking just 50 putts in the opening two rounds is aiming to break 100 in tomorrow's final circuit.

"Putting is the strongest part of my game," he said. "I haven't been putting well coming into the tournament but I feel confident and the greens are good."

Dutchman Maarten Lafeber, currently top in the rankings, is fifth on 215 after a 73 but Welshman David Park dropped back after a 75 for 217. Only one player, Andrew Butterfield from Kent, broke 70 with a 69.