Bjorn charges into Portugal lead

ESTORIL, Portugal, June 12 (UPI) -- Denmark's Thomas Bjorn stayed hot Saturday, carding his second straight 7-under 65 to seize sole possession of the Portugal Open lead after three rounds.

Bjorn ended 19-under 197 at the Penha Longa course as he sought his first European Tour win in four years. He was able to stake a three-shot advantage over Richard Green of Australia, who made a push for the lead with a bogey-free 64.

A win would be key for the Dane, who has failed to make nine cuts in 15 starts on the circuit this season. He snapped that streak last week after making the cut in Wales and going on to a ninth-place finish.

Green, who is shooting for his third Portugal crown, piled up eight birdies to leap from a 10th-place tie into a sole possession of second at 16-under 200.

Damien McGrane of Ireland (68) finished two shots in back of Green at 14-under 202, while Briton Robert Rock (68) and Robert Coles (69) were knotted in fourth with Argentina's Daniel Vancsik (68) at 203.