Michael Hoey is five shots clear in the M2M Russian Open. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey put himself in a great position to secure a fifth European Tour title with a brilliant third round 65 giving him an impressive five-stroke lead at the M2M Russian Open.

Opening rounds of 70 and 67 had left him one behind at the halfway stage, with the 34 year old talking of his need to cut out the mistakes from his game in order to challenge over the weekend.

And he did that in style, carding six birdies, one bogey and an eagle at the par five eighth as he produced the best round of the week at the Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club.

The seven under par round left Hoey, whose last success came at last year’s Trophée Hassan II, a 14 under par total and five shot lead with one round remaining.

Michael Hoey is in good form in Russia. Picture ©Getty ImagesOvernight leader Rikard Karlberg and England’s Matthew Nixon are tied for second on nine under, the former recovering from four early dropped shots to post a level par 72 while Nixon carded a bogey-free 68.

But the day belonged to Hoey, who was delighted to establish a five stroke advantage with 18 holes to play.

“It was one of those days where everything went my way for the most part. I played really well and was swinging the club well, but I got a few breaks here and there that really helped the score.

“I holed a 70 foot putt on the ninth for example – that’s was probably the biggest break I had out there. You just don’t really expect to hole those ones so that was a bit of a bonus.

“I started with a great birdie on the first to really set the tone. I hit a great eight iron in there to about five feet and then I had that great run around the turn.

“I holed out from off the green on the seventh and then the eagle on eight was nice. I hit driver then three iron to eight feet there.

“It was just going my way as I said. I made the monster putt on nine and then stiffed it on ten for another birdie. The only blip of the day was on 11 but I did have a lot go my way too.

“I am making a lot of putts this week and that is always the difference at this level. It’s all about putting.

“Obviously I have a good lead but you just can’t take it for granted. Things went my way today but it might be someone else’s day tomorrow. I am just going to go out there and try to enjoy it.

“I have been in positions to win before and finished it off and that will help a bit, but you still need to hit the shots and hole the putts.”

Gareth Shaw made five birdies in his last 13 holes, recovering from a bogey at his first hole and a double bogey at his third to card a two under 70 that leaves him tied for 50th on two over par with Waterville’s David Higgins, who posted a four over 76.

Complete Round Three Scores:

202 M Hoey (Nir) 70 67 65,

207 R Karlberg (Swe) 67 68 72, M Nixon (Eng) 69 70 68,

208 A Kaleka (Fra) 70 67 71, J Kingston (RSA) 71 69 68,

209 M Korhonen (Fin) 69 70 70, J Hansen (Den) 72 70 67, J Morrison (Eng) 68 71 70,

210 M Foster (Eng) 69 69 72, M Baldwin (Eng) 68 69 73, J Campillo (Esp) 72 71 67,

211 J Gonnet (Fra) 70 71 70, G Lockerbie (Eng) 72 70 69, O Floren (Swe) 76 69 66, C Paisley (Eng) 72 71 68,

212 L Wen-Chong (Chn) 67 70 75, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 71 70, G Havret (Fra) 72 70 70, M Carlsson (Swe) 71 72 69, S Dyson (Eng) 67 74 71, M Delpodio (Ita) 69 74 69,

213 M Lafeber (Ned) 69 73 71, D Horsey (Eng) 70 72 71, S Hend (Aus) 70 69 74,

214 A Tadini (Ita) 68 73 73, S Hansen (Den) 77 67 70, J Singh (Ind) 71 71 72, M Tullo (Chi) 74 69 71, N Floren (Swe) 71 75 68, J Elson (Eng) 71 71 72, R McEvoy (Eng) 74 71 69,

215 S Wakefield (Eng) 73 68 74, D Gaunt (Aus) 70 72 73, A Levy (Fra) 72 72 71, S Little (Eng) 69 72 74, J Roos (RSA) 70 71 74, M Campbell (Nzl) 70 73 72,

216 G Bhullar (Ind) 74 73 69, S Chowrasia (Ind) 72 72 72, R Finch (Eng) 73 74 69, J Lagergren (Swe) 74 74 68, R Wattel (Fra) 72 72 72, A Snobeck (Fra) 70 73 73, C Lloyd (Eng) 71 73 72,

217 A Hartø (Den) 70 71 76, P Hedblom (Swe) 73 74 70, H Porteous (RSA) 71 76 70, E Kofstad (Nor) 74 73 70, J Sjöholm (Swe) 78 69 70,

218 M Wiegele (Aut) 72 72 74, G Shaw (Nir) 71 77 70, D Higgins (Irl) 71 71 76, P Meesawat (Tha) 71 74 73,

219 S Henry (Sco) 73 73 73, O Bekker (RSA) 74 71 74,

220 J Maurer (Aut) 71 74 75, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 73 71 76, T Lewis (Eng) 71 74 75, A Forsyth (Sco) 74 73 73,

222 M Southgate (Eng) 73 74 75, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 70 77 75,

223 D Brooks (Eng) 77 71 75, J Colomo (Esp) 68 79 76,

224 A Lahiri (Ind) 78 70 76, T Fleetwood (Eng) 72 76 76, J Singh Brar (am) (Eng) 77 66 81,

225 C Macaulay (Sco) 72 76 77,

227 S Garcia (Esp) 75 71 81.