Canonica on verge of Walker win

Italian Emanuele Canonica was in sight of his first European tour victory with nine holes to play in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.

Two behind Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts at the start of the day, the 34-year-old from Turin – twice second in a tour career that began in 1989 – went to the turn in 34 to Colsaerts’ 38.

They were eight under par and six under respectively, while joint third one further back were English pair Barry Lane and Richard Bland. Lane sank a 126-yard pitch for an eagle two on the seventh and Bland chipped in at the long ninth for birdie.