DAVID Howell is eight shots off the lead at the Italian Open having completed his third round today.

A bogey at the par-four sixth was followed by a gain at the par-five eighth, a birdie at the par-five 11th and a bogey at the par-four 16th.

South African Garth Mulroy currently heads the leaderboard in Turin on 16-under-par, having played 16 holes.