Briton Fisher gains three-shot lead at London Club

By Tony Jimenez

ASH, England (Reuters) - Britain's Ross Fisher, bidding to become the tour's second wire-to-wire winner in as many weeks, marched three strokes clear after the European Open third round.

Saturday is often dubbed 'moving day', with players jockeying for position ahead of the final round, but there were times when most of those on the leaderboard were reduced to statues by winds gusting up to 50 kph at the London Club.

Overnight leader Fisher made a faltering start with bogeys at the second and seventh before birdies at the eighth and ninth put him back on track.

He and playing partner Graeme McDowell matched each other shot for shot on the back nine, both men eagling the par-five 15th.

But McDowell let in his fellow Briton by bogeying the 16th and 18th, his last-hole error coming after he drove into water, to finish with a 71 for 203.

Fisher ensured there was a two-shot swing at the closing hole, arrowing his approach to within six feet of the flag and sinking his birdie putt to complete a three-under 69 and a 16-under total of 200.

The big-hitting Englishman, trying to emulate Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal's wire-to-wire success at last week's French Open, regularly outdrove McDowell but had to wait until the Northern Irishman suffered his two late lapses before taking control.

South African David Frost belied his 48 years by shooting a 69 for 206. In joint fourth spot on 208 were Swede Michael Jonzon, Paul McGinley of Ireland and Dane Soren Hansen.