Levy's 63 Takes Him to First at BMW Masters


Alexander Levy fired a 9-under 63 to soar to the top of the leaderboard at the BMW Masters. The first of four tournaments in the European Tour's season-ending "Final Series" is taking place at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

The 24-year-old Frenchman, who already has two victories this year, carded nine birdies Saturday to reach 22-under 194, the lowest 54-hole score on the European Tour this season. Over three rounds he's had only one dropped shot, a bogey on the par-3 12th hole Friday.

"I played amazing golf," Levy told the European Tour's website. "I'm very surprised by myself. I started well and made some early birdies and hit some amazing shots. I am very happy with the way I played golf today."

He's four strokes ahead of Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who went one stroke better than Levy with a 62 that included eight birdies and an eagle on the par-4 16th hole when he holed out from 140 yards.

"It's nice to be in this position," added Levy, whose first career title came in April's Volvo China Open; he also won the Portugal Masters in mid-October. "It was pretty much the same when I won in China so I am going to enjoy the game tomorrow, do my best and see what happens."

"Obviously the course suits my game," noted the 39-year-old Donaldson, who secured the winning point at Gleneagles by beating Keegan Bradley in the singles at the 2014 Ryder Cup.

"I've shot 10-under before and I've done it today, which is great. I got the ball rolling better on the greens which made a big difference and obviously that shot on 16 is a big bonus.

"I had 142 (yards) to the flag, slightly uphill into the wind which was a soft nine iron and it came off spot on," Donaldson said of his eagle. "Pitched just past the hole and spun back and went in. It's quite a narrow entrance into that green from where I was but it pitched perfect and obviously is a bonus to see it go in.

"I've been playing well for a few years now so things have been getting better each year. I've been improving and winning was just a matter of time. Now it's obviously to a point where I'm trying to win more than once in a year. Everything is a progression and I'm just working towards getting better and moving the goal posts."

Five behind Levy is Germany's Marcel Siem (65), while seven back is England's Justin Rose (64).

Rose thought he might have made more headway after going 8-under Saturday. "I think I've done my part but I didn't bank on everyone else going as low as they are," Rose said. "Obviously Mr. Levy is going ridiculous out there right now. I would have thought I'd be in a bit better shape going into Sunday than I am, but every credit to the lads that are keeping it going out there."

Second-round leader Nicolas Colsaerts couldn't keep pace with these players, as the long-hitting Belgian struggled to a 73 to drop into a tie for fifth at 13-under with Argentina's Emiliano Grillo (69).

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (68) and Frenchman Romain Wattel (71) share seventh at 12-under, while another stroke back are Dutchman Joost Luiten (64), Sweden's Robert Karlsson (66), South Africans George Coetzee (67) and Branden Grace (71), American Ryan Palmer (68), Finland's Mikko Ilonen (69) and England's Ross Fisher (68).

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014086/leaderboard/index.html.