Sergio Garcia stormed into a four-shot lead after three rounds of the Castello Masters on Saturday on the same Club de Campo course where he learned to play the game as a boy.

The Spanish Ryder Cup star, whose father Victor is still the club professional, fired a five under par 66 for a 16 under par tournament total of 197.

England's David Lynn and Simon Dyson and Swede Peter Hedblom, who all shot 68 on Saturday joined Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (70) at 12 under.

"I'm in a good position. I feel like I hit the ball nicely, there were some good shots, good putts and good stretches," said Garcia.

"There's always nerves as it's never easy on your home course."

Garcia birdied the second with a long putt and then picked up shots on four consecutive holes to reach the halfway point five under for the day.

He hit trouble after the turn, hitting a wedge out the back of the tenth green and then blasting his tee shot left on 11.

He then missed a five-foot putt for birdie at the par three 12th, although Richard Finch, at the time level with the Spaniard on 14 under, missed his second putt from inside a metre.

Garcia birdied 13 and 14 and he improved to 17 under with another birdie at the par three 16th. He bogeyed the 17th but parred the last.

Alvaro Quiros, who won the Portugal Masters last week, started the day just two shots off the leaders but endured a torrid round, signing for a 76 to fall way back on four under.

Englishman Sam Little strengthened his chances of retaining his European Tour card for 2009 with a flawless five under par 66 to leave him six under, while Scotsman Stephen Gallacher had the round of the day — a six under par 65.

AFP

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