Brandon Stone closed with a bogey at the 17th and a double bogey at the 18th of Le Golf National to shoot 73 in the third round of the Open de France.
The 2016 BMW SA Open champ slipped back into a share of fifth place on three-under-par, but could shoot a low round on Sunday and upset Thongchai Jaidee, who leads on eight-under-par.
Stone made two bogeys in his first two rounds at Le Golf National, but failed to keep the mistakes at bay on Saturday. He started with a bogey, then pencilled in two birdies and two bogeys over the next eight holes to turn at one-over-par.
He brought himself back to red figures with birdies at the 13th and 16th, but battled to reach the clubhouse and dropped three shots in his final two holes.
The world number 100 will go into Sunday with an outside chance at victory. It will take some of the magic he showed in the first two rounds to claim a second European Tour title.
