Paul Broadhurst's 500th European Tour appearance could still be one to remember after a 67 in the third round of the Italian Open in Milan today.

The former Ryder Cup star made his debut as an amateur 20 years ago and he goes into the final round at Castello di Tolcinasco on 13 under par.

That was four behind Swedes Robert Karlsson and Christian Nilsson and South African Hennie Otto, who were still out on the course.

Broadhurst, now 42, made a 20-foot eagle putt on the 566-yard 12th to add to four earlier birdies, but 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."

Karlsson, two ahead overnight after a course record 61 containing two eagles, resumed with another on the 526-yard first.

But the 38-year-old, eighth in the Ryder Cup standings and with a chance to go to sixth after rejecting a chance to play the Players Championship in Florida, bogeyed the next two holes.

It was a real dogfight for top spot after that. Italian Marco Soffietti held a share of the lead for a while after a superb 63 - he had never shot under 70 on Tour before this week - then Frenchman Gregory Havret matched that to set a new clubhouse target of 16 under.

However, Karlsson picked up birdies on the seventh and ninth to turn in 34, while Otto birdied the ninth and 10th to join him and Nilsson had five birdies in seven holes from the ninth.

The trio were a stroke ahead of England's Tour rookie Ross McGowan, Havret and Spaniard Alvaro Velasco.

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," he said.

"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 not in the leading 40.