Hanson takes third-round Mercedes-Benz lead

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COLOGNE, Germany (AP) -- Peter Hanson took a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship on Saturday and has a chance to give Sweden its third consecutive victory on the European Tour.

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Peter Hanson leads the Mercedes-Benz after three rounds.

Hanson began the day three shots behind but had a 5-under round of 67 to finish in the lead.

After Peter Hedblom's victory in Scotland and Alex Noren's in Switzerland, Hanson could make it three in a row for Sweden on Sunday. Another Swede, Robert Karlsson, won in Cologne last year, but he is out this time with an eye problem.

Hanson leads Simon Dyson of England (68), Soren Hansen of Denmark (70) and James Kingston of South Africa (70) by one.

Chris Wood of England and Scott Strange of Australia, who shared the lead after two rounds, shot 73 and 74 respectively to fall behind.

Wood, 21, had his first bogey of the tournament on the 12th when he hit his approach into the crowd. He also bogeyed the final hole to sit three shots behind.

Dyson, who won the KLM Open in the Netherlands three weeks ago, had a 68 after he followed birdies on the 13th and 14th with an eagle at the next.

The highest-ranked golfer in the field of 78, No. 6 Henrik Stenson of Sweden, shot a 69 to sit two shots behind the leader at 9 under.

No. 10 Lee Westwood of England is six behind after a 72, and Europe's Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie of Scotland (71) is seven adrift.