HAMBURG, Germany - Home favorite Bernd Ritthammer erased Robert MacIntyre's four-stroke advantage on Saturday to join the Scottish rookie for a share of the lead after Day 3 of the European Open.

The German, playing his 100th European Tour event, carded a 2-under 70 to join playing partner MacIntyre at 9 under at the Green Eagle Golf Course.

MacIntyre was well positioned after following his opening 68 with a flawless 65 on Friday, but his four-shot lead was reduced to just one when Ritthammer started with a birdie and MacIntyre answered with back-to-back bogeys on the second and third holes.

MacIntyre missed birdie chances at the seventh, eighth and ninth, and had to settle for a 2-over 74 after finishing, like Ritthammer, with a birdie on the final hole.

Four-time Ryder Cup player Paul Casey is third, one shot behind the leaders, after a 3-under 69, while Spain's Pablo Larrazabal and Austria's Matthias Schwab are a further shot behind at 7 under.