Verplank is in record breaking form

Scott Verplank shot a five-under-par 67 to maintain a three-stroke lead after three rounds.

A day after establishing the 36-hole tournament record, Verplank eclipsed the 54-hole mark with a score of 21-under-par 195.

Bob Estes shot his third-straight 66 to climb into second place at 18-under 198.

He is one stroke ahead of Kirk Triplett and Brian Gay, who double-bogeyed the final hole.

"I played pretty well," said Verplank. "You know you got to keep making birdies, so I hope I'll do that tomorrow.

"The only thing I can do is come out and try to focus on the things that I do best.

"I'm not going to overpower the golf course.

"When I'm playing good, doing good, I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens and give myself a lot of looks.

"And I'm putting good and consequently I can make a few birdies then."

Estes has played the last 40 holes without a bogey and was delighted with his choice of shots.

"We have fast fairways this week and greens are soft," he said. "So that's a good combination for low scores.

"I am making good decisions - not just firing at every flag."

Pierre Fulke is handily placed to make a winning return to the European tour after moving to within a shot of the lead going into the final round in Brescia.

The Swede, who is playing his first tournament since withdrawing from last season's Volvo Masters with a wrist injury, carded a 66 to leave himself tied for second on 12 under par.

Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez leads at 13 under, with Sweden's Pehr Magnebrant, Holland's Rolf Muntz and overnight leader Peter O'Malley of Australia sharing Fulke's mark.

Fulke said he had returned from his enforced absence with his golfing appetite sharpened and is happy with his form so far.

"Today was only my seventh round of the year - two at home, one practice round here, the pro-am and three in the tournament," he said.

"And it could have been even better. I missed from four feet on the 16th and less than two feet on the 17th, but that's the way it goes."