Australian Scott Strange remains in control of the Wales Open with a day to go at Celtic Manor. Strange, whose best Tour finish on European soil before this week was 10th, has led since an opening 63 and after being four clear at halfway is now three ahead after a third-round 69. Rookie Spaniard Alvaro Velasco, no household name himself at world No.305, lies second on 12-under-par following a 68, while a stroke further back are Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and in-form Swede Robert Karlsson. England&aposs Nick Dougherty believes he is back on course to earn a Ryder Cup debut in September after he returned a 67 to move up to 10-under-par and joint sixth place. Strange, 164th on the world rankings, did what he had to do, picking off birdies at three of the par fives and hitting back from a bogey on the short third with a superb approach to four feet at the 461-yard next. Another dropped shot at the driveable par-four 15th gave the chasing pack more hope, though, as will the fact that he covered the last seven holes in one over when presented with a chance to put one hand on the trophy. Karlsson, the 2006 champion, has finished third in each of the last three tournaments, but will be desperately keen to do better than that after three-putting the final green from three feet in the BMW PGA Championship last Sunday when a birdie would have put him in a play-off. Countryman Peter O&aposMalley is 14 strokes behind Strange after a third-round 71. Third Round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open (Par 71): -15: Scott Strange (Australia) 63 66 69 -12: Alvaro Velasco 65 68 68 -11: Raphael Jacquelin 66 68 68, Robert Karlsson 67 67 68, Jeev Milkha Singh 65 68 69 -10: Benn Barham 69 64 70, Robert Dinwiddie 68 65 70, Nick Dougherty 67 69 67, Rafa Echenique 67 67 69, Pablo Larrazabal 69 67 67, Thomas Levet 69 69 65, Ross McGowan 66 68 69 -9: Ross Fisher 67 70 67 -8: Darren Clarke 70 68 67, Jamie Donaldson 72 66 67, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano 67 68 70, Soren Hansen 68 68 69, Mikko Ilonen 69 70 66, Martin Kaymer 71 66 68, Sam Little 68 70 67 Also: -1: Peter O&aposMalley (Australia) 69 72 71, Gareth Paddison (New Zealand) 73 68 71