MILAN (AFP) - South African Hennie Otto shot a third round 63 at the Italian Open on Saturday to lead by four strokes with a day to go, leaving him on course for his first European Tour title.

Otto, on a 22-under-par total of 194, could also garner an impressive milestone should he keep up the good form as that under par total has only been bettered by one shot -- by both Ernie Els and David Howell -- in European Tour history.

Sweden's Ryder Cup player Robert Karlsson had led at halfway following an impressive 61 but a third-round 69 at the Castello di Tolcinasco club saw him drop down into a share of second place four strokes behind Otto with compatriot Christian Nilsson and Spain's Alvaro Velasco.

Otto even fell further behind when Karlsson set off again with an eagle. But bogeys on the next two holes for the seven-time Tour winner were a sign that he was not firing on all cylinders like the day before.

After four birdies and a bogey in his first five holes, Otto then had four more around the turn before finishing with three more - the last of them from 25 feet - for an inward 30.

England's Ross McGowan and Phillip Archer are tied for fifth, while fellow countryman Oliver Wilson, who played nine holes of his second round using a wedge on the greens after damaging his putter, is joint seventh with Frenchman Gregory Havret.

Paul Broadhurst, playing his 500th European Tour event, is in joint 13th after a 67, but the former Ryder Cup star, who made his debut as an amateur 20 years ago, was left to rue a closing bogey.

"My neighbour out in the States is always talking about my stats and any time I'm heading towards a bogey-free round I start thinking about it," he said.

"I just wish I could play the last few holes better because I'm playing the hard ones really well."

Nick Dougherty, who flew to the event after attending his mother's funeral on Tuesday, had a 67 for 12 under and, having played with Karlsson when he shot 61, was not giving up the title chase.

"Robert played awesome, but showed it was feasible," said the 25-year-old from Liverpool, who had no fewer than nine birdies, but also a double bogey on the seventh and two bogeys.

"All things considered this week I think I'm doing well. It's been a week of mistakes, but that's acceptable in the circumstances."

American John Daly returned a 68, but that was after making the halfway cut with nothing to spare and at eight under he was down in 46th spot.

LIKE IT?  LET OTHERS KNOW