Oct 13,2024
Sweden's Jesper Svensson holds a one-shot lead going into Sunday's final round at the Open de France, while Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin is now 12 shots off the lead after a third-round 73.
Svensson shot 67 at Le Golf Nationale to reach 13 under par with England's Sam Bairstow (65) and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen (67) as the main challengers one shot behind - the trio will play in Sunday's final group.
Joe Dean and Dan Bradbury were a further shot back.
McKibbin endured his toughest round of the tournament with birdies on four, 11 and 14 but as many dropped shots on 10, 13 and 17, as well as a double bogey on the 18th to remain on one under.
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Meanwhile, Bairstow's bogey-free round - a second 65 in succession - contained four birdies and a chip-in eagle at the 14th.
He said: "Front nine was very smooth and I just holed a few putts on the back nine. If that happens tomorrow, we'll see where I end up."
Bradbury, playing with Svensson, had a run of three consecutive birdies on the back nine but fell two off the pace with a bogey after finding water at the 15th.
Dean made six birdies and only one bogey in a 66.
Svensson birdied four of his first six holes but was level par the rest of the way.
"There was a lot of putts that just snuck past," he said.
"Hopefully they will drop tomorrow. All you want is to have a chance tomorrow on 18."
Additional reporting: PA
