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Aussie golfer in mix at Andalucia Masters

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Australian golfer Min Woo Lee is in the mix going into the final round of the Andalucia Masters.
Camera IconAustralian golfer Min Woo Lee is in the mix going into the final round of the Andalucia Masters. Credit: EPA

England's Laurie Canter will take a three shot lead over countryman Matt Fitzpatrick into the final round of the Andalucia Masters in Spain with Australia's Min Woo Lee in striking distance.

Canter birdied the last in a 67 to get to seven under and give himself some breathing room at the top of the leaderboard, with Fitzpatrick carding a third round 70 in his first event since the Ryder Cup.

Lee also shot a four under 67 to move to a share of fourth and two under overall, just five shots behind Canter to lead the Aussie charge after countryman Jason Scrivener's third round shocker.

Scrivener started Saturday just three off the lead but shot a disastrous six over in the third round to be tied for 50th and five over overall.

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The other Aussie in the field, Scott Hend, missed the cut.

It was just five years ago that Canter signed for an 89 at Valderrama in the Open de Espana but he is now on the brink of claiming his first European Tour title at the 1997 Ryder Cup venue, which is widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in the game.

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"The golf course doesn't give you loads," he said.

"Although, as we all know, there's opportunities to drop shots here.

"I think what it means is I can go out tomorrow and play how I have these last couple of days.

"The score I end up on will be competitive, I think. That gives me a lot of confidence going in."

Birdies on the first and second had Canter in the lead but he gave the shots back on the third and fifth before gains on the sixth, eighth, 10th and 11th put him three ahead.

Fitzpatrick had turned in one over but he made a hat-trick of birdies from the 10th - including a chip-in on the 11th - to trim the lead to two.

Both players bogeyed the 13th but Canter hit a huge drive down the last and put an approach to 12 feet for a closing birdie and a three-shot cushion.

Fitzpatrick failed to claim a point as Europe were defeated 19-9 at Whistling Straits and the Yorkshireman was happy to have the competitive juices flowing again.

"I'm excited to be in the final group," he said.

"The aim at the start of the week is to be up there. It doesn't get better than having a chance to win on Sunday. I'll go out there and enjoy it."

American David Lipsky was third on the leaderboard at three under after a 64, with just nine players under par.

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