Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson joined Jordan Smith of England in a share of the lead after the third round of the French Open on Saturday.
Smith led by three shots overnight and extended that to four early on at Le Golf National, the venue for the 2024 Paris Olympics golf tournament.
A bogey at the last left him signing for a 70 to sit 13 under alongside playing partner Ferguson who shot 67 with the help of five birdies.
Both leaders are going in search of a third title on the European tour.
“If you’d given me a tie for the lead at the start of the week, I’d have bitten your hand off,” said Smith.
Ferguson, who holed a 67-foot putt on the 13th green, reflected: “I knew my swing was in good shape.
“I was just trying to hold on to Jordan all the way round, felt like I did that quite well and tomorrow, same again, hopefully I can heat the putter up and get them all dropping.”
One shot away in third after a 65 was Japan’s Kazuki Higa, in part thanks to an eagle at the par-five 3rd, with Germany’s Yannik Paul a further shot away in fourth.
South Africa’s Zander Lombard shares sixth position on eight under after a round of 70.
One player missing from the weekend was Robert MacIntyre, who will feature in the Ryder Cup next week but missed the cut on Friday.
© Agence France-Presse
