DeChambeau, McEvoy tied entering final round in Hamburg

Hamburg - English veteran Richard McEvoy and Bryson DeChambeau of the United States shared the lead at the lightning-hit European Open on Saturday, but Masters champion Patrick Reed was hovering at just one shot off the pace.

McEvoy, 39 and looking for his first European Tour title in his 15-year career, birdied the ninth and stayed in front as he carded a 69, with DeChambeau birdieing the last for a 70 and a share of top spot at 12 under.

"It was good. I was a little disappointed with the back nine, missed a few chances coming in on the last four holes or so but the change in conditions made it quite tough," said McEvoy, who has 11 top tens in 284 European Tour appearances.

Reed and Austria's Matthias Schwab also both held the lead briefly on a day which saw players and fans take cover from lightning which caused a suspension of more than two hours.

Ryder Cup hopeful Paul Casey was three shots off the lead at nine under par after a third successive round of 69.

DeChambeau is looking to become the first American winner of the event since Tom Kite in 1980.

"I hung in there. On the front nine I had nothing, I was so happy the storm came through because that gave me a little time to get the game back in order and I was able to do that and play well on the back nine," DeChambeau told europeantour.com.

Reed was looking like the dangerman, adding a 69 to his first two rounds of 70 and 66.

Leading third round scores from the European Tour's European Open in Hamburg, Germany on Saturday (par 72/GBR & IRL unless stated):

204 - Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 66 68 70, Richard McEvoy 70 65 69

205 - Patrick Reed (USA) 70 66 69, Matthias Schwab (AUT) 68 67 70

207 - Paul Casey 69 69 69

208 - David Drysdale 69 67 72, Scott Hend (AUS) 68 71 69, Romain Wattel (FRA) 67 69 72, Renato Paratore (ITA) 72 66 70

209 - David Horsey 69 73 67

210 - Christofer Blomstrand (SWE) 72 67 71, Sam Horsfield 70 71 69, Wang Jeunghun (KOR) 73 65 72, Bradley Dredge 68 69 73, Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 69 70 71

211 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70 69 72, Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 69 71 71, Lasse Jensen (DEN) 68 72 71, Callum Shinkwin 71 70 70, Scott Jamieson 70 71 70, Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 72 68 71, Marc Warren 73 71 67, Philipp Mejow (GER) 69 69 73, Cho Rak hyun (KOR) 72 72 67, Allen John (GER) 68 73 70