ANDALUCIA, Spain, March 17, 2012 (AFP) - Spain's Eduardo De La Riva maintained his one-shot lead at the Andalucia Open on Saturday as the unheralded 29-year-old stayed on track for his first career title.
De La Riva, whose best previous finish was a third-place at last year's Madrid Masters, carded six birdies and two bogeys.
It was enough to keep him in front of England's Simon Khan and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, the first-round leader, who are one shot back on 11 under par.
"It's been a great day for golf," said De La Riva.
"The key has been that I've made very few mistakes, I only missed four short putts.
"I was in exactly the same position at the Madrid Masters, so Sunday will be a normal feeling for me. I will try and play as best as I can, playing in the last group will not have any effect on my game."
Manassero, who had been three ahead after the first round, carded five birdies on Saturday.
"I played better golf from tee to green," said the 18-year-old. "I played even better than the first day and gave myself many chances. My only bad moment was three-putting 16, which pushed me back nearly two shots. The rest was all good."
England's David Lynn and South Africa's Hennie Otto are another stroke back on 10 under, as is tournament promoter Miguel Angel Jimenez.
The 48-year-old Jimenez is trying to become the oldest winner in European Tour history. He added a 69 to previous rounds of 69 and 68.
Leading and selected third round scores at the Andalucia Open at the Aloha GC, Andalucia, Spain on Saturday (GBR/IRL unless stated, par 72):
204 - Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) 67-69-68
205 - Matteo Manassero (ITA) 64-73-68, Simon Khan 70-69-66
206 - Hennie Otto (RSA) 67-71-68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 69-68-69, David Lynn 70-68-68
207 - Marcel Siem (GER) 69-71-67, Phillip Price 69-72-66, Julien Quesne (FRA) 68-72-67, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 69-71-67, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 70-68-69
208 - Damien McGrane 69-68-71, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 68-69-71, Graeme Storm 70-69-69, Oliver Fisher 71-69-68, Robert Rock 69-69-70, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 70-72-66, Borja Etchart (ESP) 71-71-66, Mark Foster 69-70-69
209 - Alex Haindl (RSA) 68-71-70, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 69-72-68, Tommy Fleetwood 68-69-72, Andrea Pavan (ITA) 70-69-70, Gareth Maybin 72-68-69, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 73-65-71, Bradley Dredge 74-67-68
210 - Shane Lowry 71-72-67, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 69-71-70, Tano Goya (ARG) 72-69-69, Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) 71-70-69
Selected:
211 - Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) 69-71-71, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 69-70-72
212 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 72-69-71, Keith Horne (RSA) 73-70-69
213 - Mike Weir (CAN) 68-73-72
214 - Andrew Dodt (AUS) 70-74-70