Lowry four adrift as Manassero and Fox lead in Canada

Shane Lowry is back in the pack on ten-under after carding a third round of 68 to lie within four shots of the lead at the RBC Canadian Open.

Lowry was steady if unspectacular but did have a decent day on the greens, ranking 23rd in strokes gained putting, as he mixed three birdies and a bogey to share 16th place.

The Offaly man opened with seven straight pars before birdies on 8 and 11 got things moving in the right direction. His only blemish of the day came on the 12th but he responded immediately with a birdie on the 13th.

Lowry will be looking to burst from the chasing pack on Sunday and leapfrog leaders Matteo Manassero and Ryan Fox who both carded rounds of 64 to share the lead on fourteen-under-par.

Italian star Manassero always looked destined for the PGA Tour before he fell down the golfing pyramid, and in his rookie campaign he has the opportunity to win for the first time in the US.

“It was a really good round. I played well from tee to green, but I did that yesterday too. It’s hard to say anything wasn’t how I wanted it because I need to look at the bigger picture and I’m going to be standing in a really nice position. I will focus onto that, and today was just really good.”

Fox meanwhile, is also enjoying a breakthrough rookie season on the PGA Tour and is chasing his second win of the season.

“Yeah, a different situation,” said the New Zealander. “I always felt like I was on the outside looking in at Myrtle Beach but then kind of chipped in, and it was a bit of a whirlwind.

“Yeah, I just feel a bit more comfortable in my own shoes. I feel like I belong a bit more out here, and just stuff doesn’t seem to matter quite as much after getting that first win.

“Just there’s a bit more freedom there. I’ll take that into tomorrow, take that confidence knowing that I’ve done it and see what happens.

“Obviously there’s a lot of good players behind me. Yeah, there’s a low score out there, so I feel like it’s going to take a pretty low one out there tomorrow to get the job done.

“No change in game plan or anything. Just go out and give it a go and see what happens.”

Home favourite Mackenzie Hughes is two shots back on twelve-under, alongside Jake Knapp and Andrew Putnam after a round of 64 of his own and he is a shot behind Lee Hodges, Kevin Yu and Matt McCarty.