Golf: Renato Paratore leads by one after third round of British Masters

Renato Paratore birdied the last hole to shoot five-under 66 and retain his one-stroke lead on Friday after three rounds at the British Masters, where the Italian golfer has yet to drop a shot all week. On a day of low scoring that included a round of 61 by Sam Horsfield containing three eagles, Paratore maintained his consistency to add to bogey-free rounds of 65 and 66 over the first two days. He was 16-under par overall at Close House Golf Club at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northern England. Justin Harding of South Africa shot 66 and was the closest challenger to the 270th-ranked Paratore heading into the final round of an event that marks the full return of the European Tour following its four-month suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark was a stroke further back after also shooting 66.