Ewen Ferguson posted a four under par round of 67 to join Jordan Smith at the top of the Cazoo Open de France leaderboard after day three at Le Golf National.
The Scotsman dropped just one shot, at the par three 12th hole, to slash a three-stroke overnight deficit and draw level with Smith, who posted a one under par 70, on 13 under par, one clear of Japan’s Kazuki Higa on 12 under.
Related: Jordan Smith surges ahead at Cazoo Open de France
Two-time DP World Tour winner Ferguson birdied the second, eighth and ninth to make the turn at three under before sandwiching that dropped shot at the 12th with gains at the 11th and 13th. He then safely navigated the tricky finishing stretch to take a share of the 54-hole lead for the third time in his career.
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Smith, who is also looking for his third win on the DP World Tour, mixed five birdies with a double and two bogeys, including a three-putt from 66 feet at the last, but will nevertheless join Hero Cup team-mate Ferguson and Higa in the final group at the 105th edition of Continental Europe’s oldest national open.
Higa, whose six under par 65 was the low round of day three, will bid to become the third Japanese winner in DP World Tour history, with Isao Aoki becoming the first just over 40 years ago and Hideki Matsuyama claiming a Major Championship at the Masters Tournament and two World Golf Championships in recent years.
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Germany’s Yannik Paul is fourth on 11 under par, while another Japanese player, Ryo Hisatsune, is two shots further back in fifth on nine under. Frenchman Julien Brun continues to lead the home charge in a tie for sixth on eight under, alongside England’s Richard Mansell, South African Zander Lombard and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard.
Player quotes
Ewen Ferguson: Being in the position we were in, challenging for the lead, I think that brings a different kind of pressure. I knew my swing was in good shape, because there was less wind they pushed a few tees back, made a few of the holes play a bit longer but my iron play is usually pretty good so I knew I could deal with it.
I think you could easily rack up quite a big number, with not that bad a golf shot. You sometimes need to accept that 30 foot is a birdie chance out here, it’s a difficult course. Like on 15 and one, where you’re trying to make a longer putt. We did a pretty good job of that today and hopefully do the same thing tomorrow.
I always look [at leaderboards]. I’m looking to see who’s making a charge at us, who’s doing what and what I need to do. I’m always looking to see what I need to do to finish on top, same tomorrow and same today. Playing with Smithy and Ras, 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.
Jordan Smith: I just didn’t hit as many shots close and didn’t hole as many putts. It still felt good out there, had one bad hole, the putts just didn’t drop today but hopefully they will tomorrow.
If you’d given me this position at the start of the week I’d have bitten your hand off. I’m excited for tomorrow, it’s going to be good fun and it’s nice to be in that situation.
I can’t remember what we were talking about, all sorts. I get on with Ewbo and Ras really well and all our caddies get on well, so it was good fun out there.
