Hennie Otto on top at Italian Open

MILAN, Italy, May 10 (UPI) -- South Africa's Hennie Otto closed the third round Saturday with three straight birdies and leads the Italian Open in Milan, Italy, by four strokes.

Otto shot 9-under-par 63 Saturday for a record 54-hole total of 22-under 194.

"I played very well today, very well indeed and I am very pleased," he said. "I put the ball close to the pins with my irons and gave myself a lot of chances. I made a few more putts today than earlier in the week which is probably why I am where I am tonight."

He started the round birdie-bogey.

A win Sunday would be his first on the European Tour and could ease the pain of having blown a five-shot overnight lead at the Madeira Islands Open in Santa Cruz, Madeira, in late March.

Overnight leader Robert Karlsson (69) of Sweden shares second place with fellow Swede Christian Nilsson (64) and Spain's Alvaro Velasco (64) at 18-under 198.