Shiv Kapur made a great recovery on the back nine to return a card of two-under 70 that saw him finish the day in tied 26th place after the penultimate round of the Italian Open golf championship here.

Overnight tied 13th, Kapur opened with an eagle, but gave both shots back with a double bogey on the third hole. Two more birdies followed on sixth and eighth and once again Kapur gave those shots back with a double bogey on par-five ninth.

Till he played in a determined fashion and got back two more birdies on 12th and 18th to finish at 70 and a total of 12-under 204 after the end of the third round at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club here.

South African Hennie Otto shot a nine-under 63 to take a four-stroke lead into the final round at 22-under 194.

Robert Karlsson, who shot a course-record 61 Friday, carded a 69 to find himself in the tied second spot with Christian Nilsson and Alvaro Velasco.