COLOGNE, Oct 6: Bernhard Langer’s closing hole birdie gave him a slim one stroke lead to take into the German Masters final round on Sunday but the stage could be set now for a dramatic finale between the home favourite and American John Daly.

Langer was relieved to pick up a last-ditch shot to card a four-under-par 68 on Saturday which took him to 17-under-par 199.

That edged him a stroke better than his week-long rival Greg Owen, Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden and revitalised Australian Stephen Leaney, who bounced back from a mediocre start to storm home in just 30 strokes to grab a share of second place.

Daly’s sizzling 64 brought him charging through the field to lie only three strokes behind Langer. He now has a fine chance of securing a German double after winning the BMW International in Munich the last time he visited Europe a month ago.

Only four strokes separate the top 15 players, though, and Langer insisted it will not just be the big-hitting U.S. Tour player who will mount a challenge for the $400,000 first prize and a fourth title in the event he promotes.

The players immediately behind Langer showed they cannot be discounted. As well as Leaney’s revival, only a late bogey kept Jacobson from a share of the lead and Owen, the first round co-leader, has been in contention all week.

The tall Englishman will draw on his British Open experience in July when he briefly led at Royal Lytham, to try to earn his maiden tour title.

Third round scores

199 - Bernhard Langer (Ger) 67-64-68

200 - Greg Owen (Eng) 65-68-67, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 67-66-67, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 67-66-67

202 - John Daly (USA) 71-67-64, Roger Wessels (Rsa) 202 67-70-65, Gary Evans (Eng) 71-65-66, David Lynn (Eng) 68-66-68

203 - Steve Webster (Eng) 70-68-65, Roger Chapman (Eng) 67-69-67, Ian Poulter (Eng) 67-69-67, Marc Farry (Fra) 72-65-66, Gary Orr (Sco) 70-67-66, Ian Woosnam (Wal) 69-68-66, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68-68-67

204 - Padraig Harrington (Irl) 70-67-67

205 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 68-69-68

206 - Darren Clarke (Nir) 68-67-71

Selected:

208 - Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa) 69-71-68, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 72-68-68, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 70-70-68

211 - Lee Westwood (Eng) 72-70-69.—Reuters/AFP