The Omega European Masters was well and truly up for grabs as a host of players battled for top spot on day three at Crans-sur-Sierre.
Overnight leader Julien Quesne remained at the summit midway through his penultimate round, but was joined on ten under by David Howell and Paul Lawrie, two of several players to eagle the par five first this morning.
Rikard Karlberg, Jaco van Zyl, Marcus Fraser and Danny Willett trailed the leading pair by one, with several others in close contention on a congested leaderboard.
Howell, six under overnight, followed his opening three with birdies at the fifth and seventh in a faultless front nine.
Quesne did not make a single par in his first seven holes. Bogeys at the second, third and sixth - shortened to a 140 yard par three - were countered by four birdies.
Karlberg, who finished fourth in July’s Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity, was the day’s big mover.
After starting on three under, he picked up five birdies en route to a front nine 31, before picking up further shots at the 11th and 14th.
Van Zyl recovered from a bogey at the first with five birdies, while Fraser and Willett were also making good progress.
