Alps Tour — The Island’s Paul McBride made six birdies in a five-under 67 to lie just five shots off the lead heading into the final round of the Antognolla Alps Open.

The Dubliner is tied for seventh place on three-under-par at Antognolla Golf near Perugia in central Italy, where home player Stefano Pitoni shot a bogey-free 68 to lead by a shot from Spanish amateur Joel Moscatel on eight-under.

Scores

"I was very good from tee to green and hit 18 greens in regulation,” Pitoni said. “I had many putts for birdie, but I was not as good as yesterday on the greens. I tend to play defensively to try to hit the fairways because I'm not very long. 

“On this course, it helps to be strong because many bunkers have been put around 250 metres and to fly them you need to go long, and as I cannot do it, I need to hit straight! Tomorrow I will think shot by shot, not looking at the leader board and try to stay as calm as possible.”

Castleknock’s David Carey is tied 20th on one-under after a second-round 70 with Gary Hurley a shot further back in 31st after a 70,

The cut fell at one-over 143 but Simon Bryan missed out by a shot after a 71 with Jonathan Yates (72) three-over and Rhys Clarke (75) nine-over.