Brooks Koepka and Min Woo Lee will take a share of the lead into the final round of the FedEx Open de France.
Related: Marcus Armitage retains advantage in France
The American posted a six under 65 on day three and was joined by Australia’s Lee on 11 under par after his three under 68. The duo share a one-stroke lead over round two leader Marcus Armitage, of England, American Michael Kim and 2022 Open de France winner Guido Migliozzi, who share third on ten under.
View this post on Instagram
Five-time Major winner Koepka mixed three birdies and one bogey in a front nine of 34, but burst into life on the back nine with some aggressive iron play and improved putting.
The 35-year-old parred the first three after the turn but it was the tricky par four 13th where the fireworks started. He converted from ten feet for his fourth birdie of the day, which proved to be the start of a rapid ascent up the leaderboard.
View this post on Instagram
The former HotelPlanner Tour graduate made light work of what is statistically the hardest hole on the course with a birdie from four feet at the par four 14th, then added another trio of birdies from 14 feet, seven feet and three feet to make it five in a row and seven under for his round.
He missed the green on the par three 18th and subsequently gave a shot back, but signed for a 65 and a share of the lead.
View this post on Instagram
Three-time DP World Tour winner Lee added a second successive 68 to his opening 66 by offsetting two bogeys with five birdies, including back-to-back gains at the fifth and sixth. He did reach 12 under after a birdie at the 13th, but gave it back at the 15th to finish 11 under and take a share of the 54-hole lead for the fifth time in his DP World Tour career.
View this post on Instagram
Italy’s Migliozzi will try to win Continental Europe’s Oldest National Open for the second time when he tees it up just one shot back alongside Kim and Armitage, while Australian Elvis Smylie and France’s Jeong weon Ko share sixth on nine under.
Sweden’s Simon Forsström carded the third hole-in-one of the week at the par three seventh, which was one of six eagles on day three, adding another 150 trees to the tournament’s Eagles for Good campaign.
