Scotland's Marc Warren and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark are joint third only two back.

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Molinari's superb four-under 68 in testing conditions has left the Italian Ryder Cup star one shot clear of South Africa's George Coetzee, Scotland's Marc Warren, Mark Foster of England and Spaniard Alejandro Canizares.

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Also teeing off will be Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay, the only Scot to have won on the European Tour this season, and compatriots Andrew Coltart, Alastair Forsyth, Paul Lawrie, Gary Orr and Marc Warren.

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Earlier, Scotland's Marc Warren had held a two-stroke lead with three holes to play, but a three-putt contributed to a double bogey at the 16th which he followed with a bogey at the 17th.

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Scotland's Marc Warren had led for most of the final day, but four bogeys in his last five holes meant he finished in a tie for fourth -- one shot away from making the playoff as he was left to rue a three-putt at 18.

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