Dougherty wins, then loses, edge in Milan

England’s Nick Dougherty led the Italian Open by three shots with nine holes to play in Milan, but appeared to be nursing a neck strain as he tried for his second European Tour title.

One behind South African Andrew McLardy when play resumed in an event reduced to 54 holes because of earlier rain delays, Dougherty sank a 20-foot eagle putt on the first and birdied the third and ninth to turn in 32.

The 24-year-old Liverpudlian was bunkered on the long ninth and although he made the green with his second and two-putted he was feeling his neck.

He was 17 under par, while eight players shared second place. McLardy was not among them. He birdied the first, but then bogeyed the second, fifth and seventh to fall off the leaderboard.

Dougherty's advantage disappeared in three holes. He hooked horribly off the tee at the long 12th and had a bogey six while Spain's Gonzalo Ferandez-Castano eagled the 15th and almost sank his pitch to the 17th.

They were tied on 16 under and defending champion Francesco Molinari would have joined him if he had holed a closing 10-footer. But to groans from the crowd he missed it and was tied for third.