Crans Montana, Switzerland (My Sportsbook) - Sweden's Alexander Noren fired an eight-under-par 63 to take the third-round lead Saturday at the European Masters.

Noren completed 54 holes on the Crans-sur-Sierre course at 15-under 198 for a two-shot lead over South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (65).

Welshman Bradley Dredge (68) is a shot further back at 12-under 201, while Angelo Que (68), Ross McGowan (68) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (69) share fourth place at 11-under 202.

Second-round leader Thomas Aiken stumbled to a four-over 75 and slipped nine shots back at six-under 207.

Noren, 27, played his final four holes at three-under par to snatch the lead from Schwartzel.

The late run started with a seven-foot eagle putt at the 15th hole followed by a 15-footer for birdie at the 16th. Noren capped his round with a 10-foot birdie putt at the 18th.

Chasing his first European Tour win, Noren finished the day with an eagle, seven birdies and just one bogey. He credited his putting for the seven-shot difference between his second-round 70 and Saturday's 63.

"The greens are good, but as soon as you start missing you start forcing them. Today I was calmer and 'letting it happen,' as the mental coaches would say," said Noren, who needed just 26 putts in the third round.

Schwartzel, playing a group in front of Noren, coasted through his first 14 holes, making eight birdies and a bogey along the way. But he hit into the trees from a bunker at the 15th and made a bogey six, just minutes before Noren would begin his run on the same hole.

A three-time European Tour winner, Schwartzel still felt like he played well.

"I am swinging the club well and if you can get your ball on the greens around this golf course then you are going to make a good score," he said. "There are a lot of birdies out there if you are playing well. I have managed to put myself in position for the last round and if I can play like I did today, then I can win tomorrow."

This tournament kicks off the scoring race for the 2010 European Ryder Cup team.