Levy jumps 4 clear in Shanghai

Shanghai, China (SportsNetwork.com) - Alexander Levy fired a 9-under 63 in Saturday's third round and he jumped four strokes clear of the field at the BMW Masters.

Levy, a two-time winner this season on the European Tour, completed 54 holes at 22-under-par 194. His total of 194 smashed the old record of 200. Peter Hanson had set the old mark in 2012.

"I played amazing golf. I'm very surprised by myself. I started well and made some early birdies and hit some amazing shots," Levy said. "I am very happy with the way I played golf today."

Jamie Donaldson matched his own course record of 62 in round three at Lake Malaren Golf Club. He is alone in second place at minus-18. Donaldson first shot 62 in 2012, the first year of the tournament.

Marcel Siem is one stroke back at 17-under-par 199 after a third-round 65. Justin Rose, the highest-ranked player in the field at world No. 6, carded an 8-under 64 to move into fourth place at 15-under 201.

Second-round leader Nicolas Colsaerts stumbled to a 1-over 73 and he dipped into a tie for fifth at minus-13. He was joined there by Emiliano Grillo (69). Graeme McDowell (68) and Romain Wattel (71) are tied for seventh at 12-under- par 204.

Levy, the first-round leader, trailed by one at the start of the day, but he flew out of the gate with three consecutive birdies from the first to move two clear of Colsaerts, who didn't threaten the lead after that.

After a pair of pars, Levy poured in a 40-footer for birdie at the sixth. He made it two in a row with a birdie at seven. Levy led by three at that point and he made the turn with that lead as he parred the eighth and ninth.

The Frenchman kicked in a short birdie effort at the 10th and followed with his third birdie in three days at the 11th.

Levy extended his lead to five strokes as he birdied the par-5 13th. He also 2-putted for birdie at the 15th, another par-5, to move to 22-under. Levy parred the final three holes to end there.

"It's nice to be in this position. It was pretty much the same when I won in China (in April), so I am going to enjoy the game tomorrow, do my best and see what happens," Levy stated.

Donaldson used a hot stretch of golf, in which he went 9-under over an 11-hole stretch, to soar in to second place. He parred four of the first five holes to go with a birdie at the second.

The Welshman started his hot streak with birdies at the sixth and seventh. After making par at eight, Donaldson drained three straight birdie efforts from the ninth.

Donaldson birdied the par-5 13th, and he has played that hole in 4-under par for the week. He made it two in a row as he also birdied the 14th from 50 feet out. Donaldson jumped into second place as he holed his 9-iron approach shot at 16 for eagle. He parred the last two holes to end four back.

"Obviously the course suits my game. I've shot 10-under before and I've done it today, which is great. I got the ball rolling better on the greens, which made a big difference and obviously that shot on 16 was a big bonus," said Donaldson. "I had 142 yards to the flag, slightly uphill into the wind, which was a soft 9-iron and it came off spot on. Pitched just past the hole and spun back and went in. It's quite a narrow entrance into that green from where I was, but it pitched perfect and obviously is a bonus to see it go in."

NOTES: Levy owns the 54-hole lead for the second time this season on the European Tour, and for the third time in his career ... He won the China Open in April, the last time he had the third-round lead ... Levy's total of 22- under par is the lowest 54-hole score of the season on the European Tour ... This is the first event of the European Tour's finals series.