Straffan, Ireland ? Phillip Price shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the European Open at The K Club.

Price is at 14-under 202. Darren Clarke (70), Angel Cabrera of Argentina (66), Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden (67), Mark McNulty of Zimbabwe (68) and Alastair Forsyth of Scotland (69) are tied for second.

Price birdied the first two holes, then birdied the long fourth from 15 feet and the seventh from 35 before dropping his first shot at the short eighth. He hit his 7-iron through the green and missed a 7-foot par putt.

More birdies followed at the 12th, 15th and 16th. Last year at the Ryder Cup, Price beat Phil Mickelson 3 and 2 as the Europeans defeated the Americans.

Colin Montgomerie had a hole in one on the 12th with a 7-iron of 187 yards and is at 4 under after a 73.