Casandra Alexander, Moa Folk and Alexandra Försterling will take a share of the lead into the final round of the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open after an enthralling second day on Saturday at Golf Club Milano.

The trio sit at nine-under-par, three shots clear of a tightly packed chasing group featuring Anna Morgan, Cara Gainer, Alice Hewson, Dorothea Forbrigd and Pia Babnik. Lois Lau is a further shot back in ninth place.

Home favourites Anna Zanusso and Alessandra Fanali are the leading Italian players and are part of a six-way tie for 10th, five strokes off the pace.

Folke and Försterling laid down the marker during the morning wave, posting rounds of seven-under-par 65 and four-under-par 68 respectively, before Alexander joined them at the summit with a dramatic afternoon 68.

The South African, who shared the overnight lead, looked set to move clear after carding five birdies and a lone bogey through her opening 10 holes. After a dropped shot at the 13th, she responded in style with an eagle at the par-five 14th to reclaim the outright lead.

“After I hit a four-iron in, Doug [Pirie] said it was going to be difficult to top that for shot of the day,” Alexander said.

Another birdie followed at the 15th, but consecutive bogeys at 16 and 17 brought her back to the pack before a closing par secured her place in the three-way tie.

“It was a rollercoaster,” said the recent KPMG Women’s Irish Open champion. “Up and down all day, but I’ll take it.”

Alexander expects the battle to go right down to the closing holes.

“There are a few of us who have been in this position before, so it’ll be a great challenge,” she said. “When it’s this close, it makes it fun because everyone has just as much on the line. It’ll be one on one birdie wise and it’s a great finishing stretch, so it could get very interesting.”