Holder Westwood back in charge in Andalucia

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By Norman Dabell

MARBELLA, Spain (Reuters) - Holder Lee Westwood regained control of the Andalucia Open on Saturday with an exhilarating start to his third round at Aloha.

Five successive birdies from the start in strong gusts, led the Briton to a six-under-par 66 and a one-shot lead on 12-under-par 204.

His 19-year-old compatriot Oliver Fisher posted a flawless 67 to sit one shot behind with another Englishman, David Lynn, and Frenchman Thomas Levet, who carded 68s.

Joint overnight leader Peter Hedblom (70) is a further stroke back on 10-under with four more Swedes on nine-under -- Patrik Sjoland, Michael Jonzon, Alex Noren and Pelle Edberg.

Second round co-leader Matthew Millar of Australia is four shots behind Westwood.

After slipping two shots off the lead on Friday, Westwood got back on course for a successful defence of his title and a move up on the world rankings from 20th.

He will also put himself in great heart before attempting to win the U.S. Masters the week after next.

"Going into the Masters with confidence is so important and there's nothing like a win to give you confidence," Westwood told a news conference.

GREAT START

"I decided not to go to Houston next week in preference to coming here to defend my title and then practising next week and everything's gone 100 percent to plan so far.

"Considering the gusting wind, it was a great start and being seven-under after 10 was great golf.

"I didn't hit any destructive shots and I could have been sitting here with a 63 if I hadn't had a couple of three putts on the back nine."

Fisher stayed calm as the 2000 European number one got off to his blistering start and the teenager moved within a stroke of one of his role models by holing a 35ft birdie putt on the 18th.

The youngster, who is in his second year on the full tour after a successful amateur career, has a chance of his first triumph.

"It's the first time I've played with Lee, it was the perfect draw for me," Fisher told reporters. "Lee's so relaxed and a start like that probably makes you more focused too."

Levet came back from two bogeys in the first four holes to give himself a chance to win his fourth tour title.

"Plus two so early on wasn't good," Levet, who has recovered completely from the vertigo that threatened to end his career in 2006, told Reuters, "but I was determined to turn it around and there's everything to play for now tomorrow."

Lynn birdied the last two holes to move into second place and the Englishman, whose only win came in the 2004 KLM Open, is happy to at last be contending again.

"It's good to be under pressure to win again," Lynn told Reuters, "and have a real target tomorrow."

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