Matt Fitzpatrick extends his lead in Sweden

England's Matt Fitzpatrick will take a commanding lead into the final round of the Nordea Masters after repelling a spirited challenge from Nicolas Colsaerts in Stockholm.

Fitzpatrick took a three-shot lead into the third day at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club thanks to a flawless 65 on Friday, but saw that wiped out in the space of eight holes by playing partner Colsaerts.

Colsaerts, who has not won since victory in the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012 led to him being selected as a Ryder Cup wild card, birdied the fourth and sixth to close the gap as Fitzpatrick recorded a string of pars.

And the 33-year-old Belgian then moved into the outright lead thanks to a two-shot swing on the eighth, where he holed from 20 feet for birdie and Fitzpatrick failed to get up and down from short of the green.

However, Fitzpatrick instantly bounced back from only his second bogey of the week with a birdie on the par-five ninth and regained the outright lead with another two-shot swing on the 10th, the 21-year-old holing from 20 feet for birdie as Colsaerts bogeyed following a wild drive.

Fitzpatrick, who won his first European Tour title in the British Masters last year and was seventh in the Masters in April, then rolled in a hat-trick of birdies from the 13th and eventually signed for a 68 to finish 15 under par, five shots ahead of Colsaerts and defending champion Alexander Noren.

Victory on Sunday would see Fitzpatrick regain third place in the Ryder Cup qualifying race from Chris Wood, who won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week.