Intro:

Frenchman Alexander Levy birdied his opening three holes at the BMW Masters on Saturday before carding for a nine-under-par 63, to hold a four-shot lead after three rounds in Shanghai.

Script:

A flawless round three lifted Alexander Levy to the top of the leaderboard at the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

The Frenchman carded a nine-under 63 on Saturday to move to 22-under-par - his 54-hole score the lowest of the European Tour season.

Levy started the round with three birdies in succession and went on to putt six more to go out in front.

Jamie Donaldson is close behind.

He climbed to second after shooting the round of the day - a bogey-free, ten-under-par 62.

Donaldson eagled the 16th, taking him to 18-under for the tournament.

A shot behind is Marcel Siem.

The German carded a bogey-free seven under 65, that included four birdies in succession, to reach 17-under.

And despite enjoying a great start, where he birdied four of his first seven holes, Englishman Justin Rose is sitting in fourth overall.

He ended the day with an eight under par 64.