By GolfDigestME.com

Matt Fitzpatrick will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Italian Open after producing a stunning 69 in challenging conditions at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

The reigning US Open Champion got up and down for a closing birdie to move to 10-under par and edge one stroke clear of nearest challengers Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai.

Fitzpatrick started the day a single shot behind his Ryder Cup teammate and halfway leader McIlroy but turned in 36 after carding one bogey and no birdies on the front nine as strong winds made things difficult.

The Englishman opened his birdie account at the 10th before rolling in for another on the 12th green to get to nine under, and after saving par at the 17th, he birdied the last to take the outright lead.

World No. 2 McIlroy, who last month won the FedExCup on the PGA Tour and currently leads the DP World Tour Rankings, also finished his round with a birdie to post a level-par 71 which contained three birdies and three bogeys.

Rai, meanwhile, fired two eagles and two birdies in a flawless 65 to make a huge move up the leaderboard. France’s Victor Perez, American Kurt Kitayama and Australian Lucas Herbert were in a three-way tie for fourth on eight under.

“I am really pleased with today. We had the wind switch on nine and the golf course just completely changed. It was a wind we had not played in all week. To me, I just felt like if I could just hang on and just avoid bogeys, I would put myself in good position. Managed to pick up a few on back nine. Delighted to be going into tomorrow with the lead.”

McIlroy added: “The wind got up there when we turned, I struggled with the putter all day but I think especially when the wind got up, I struggled just to sort of commit to reads, and do I play the wind, do I not play the wind. I holed a couple of nice ones coming in but missed a lot of opportunities there at sort of the start of the middle of the round. Sort of thankfully I’m still in it. Still only one shot back. I think I’ll be in the final group tomorrow.”

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