IS MOLAS (Sardinia), Nov 3: Germany’s Sven Struver made a late bid to turn around a frustrating season when he took a one-shot lead after the third round of the Italian Open on Saturday.

A week after failing badly at American tour pre-qualifying school, the 34-year-old Hamburg professional lifted his spirits with a rousing eight-under-par 64.

His tournament total of 18-under-par 198 gave him a one-shot lead over rookie Frenchman Gregory Havret going into Sunday’s final round.

Overnight leader Havret fought his way back into the fray with three successive late birdies to card a 68 and edge a shot in front of Britain’s Bradley Dredge, who like Havret is looking for a first tour title.

Struver is looking for his fourth title three years after his last — the European Masters.

But remembering his maiden win in 1996 — when he came from seven strokes behind in the South African PGA Championship to beat double US Open champion Ernie Els — he knows there is no room for complacency.

Third round scores:

198 Sven Struver (Germany) 66 68 64

199 Gregory Havret (France) 65 66 68

200 Bradley Dredge 69 66 65

201 Diego Borrego (Spain) 70 66 65

202 Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 70 67 65

203 Massimo Scarpa (Italy) 70 69 64, Shaun Webster 70 67 66, Steve Webster 68 67 68

204 Fredrik Andersson (Sweden) 65 72 67, Ian Poulter 67 69 68, Michele Reale (Italy) 63 73 68, Silvio Grappasonni (Italy) 70 65 69

205 Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 68 71 66, David Howell 71 66 68, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 67 70 68, Mark Roe 63 69 73

206 Patrik Sjoland (Sweden) 69 71 66, Gary Evans 70 66 66, Stephen Dodd 70 68 68, Ronan Rafferty 68 69 69, Raymond Russell 66 70 70, Markus Brier (Austria) 70 66 70, Christian Cevaer (France) 69 66 71, Jean Van de Velde (France) 67 65 74.—Reuters