COLOGNE, Germany -- Former champion Pablo Larrazabal shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday to pull away from the pack for a three-shot lead entering the final round of the BMW International Open.
The Spaniard, who won the tournament in a playoff with compatriot Sergio Garcia in 2011, still has yet to make a bogey and finished the third round at 17-under par.
"I'm going shot by shot, hole by hole and trying to make as many birdies as I can," Larrazabal said. "... I put myself in a little bit of trouble but I knew how to handle it and to keep it going and make some birdies coming in."
Eight players are tied for second at 14-under.
Emiliano Grillo would be closer, but had a double bogey on the final hole Saturday. The Argentine is tied with former winners Thomas Bjorn (2000 and 2002), Henrik Stenson (2006) and Robert Karlsson (1997), as well as Francesco Molinari, Carlos Del Moral, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Richard Green.
Green catapulted himself into contention with a 62 Saturday on the wet course. The Australian had eight birdies and an eagle to post the low round for the event.
"The course was firm on Thursday afternoon, bouncy, and now all of a sudden it's target practice," Green said. "So you can pretty much fly it at any pin and stop it right there."
Former winner Danny Willett, who started in a four-way lead with Larrazabal, Grillo and playing partner Cabrera Bello, struggled with a shoulder injury to shoot a 1-under 71 and is four strokes behind Larrazabal.
