Jordan Smith carded an excellent six under par 66 to join Ewen Ferguson at the top of a congested leaderboard heading into the final round of the BMW International Open.
Related: Ewen Ferguson leads amid Bernhard Langer’s emotional farewell
Scotland’s Ferguson could not reproduce the free-flowing displays of the first two days as he retained a share of the lead with a one under 71, but it was Smith who made his move after recovering from an early bogey with five birdies and an eagle to join his playing partner on 14 under.
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Swede Jens Dantorp was the only man to go lower than Smith on Day Three, as his eight under 64 saw him move into a tie for third with Frenchman Romain Langasque, just one shot behind the leaders on 13 under par.
Ferguson, Langasque and Smith comprised the final group at Golflcub München Eichenried and it was the Scot and Frenchman who made the first move, with a birdie apiece at the first.
As Langasque dropped a couple of shots in the ensuing holes, two-time DP World Tour winner Ferguson kept his cool with a number of good par saves to make the turn at one under, which was how he finished as he mixed two birdies with two bogeys on the back nine.
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Smith, who is searching for his third DP World Tour victory and second on German soil, immediately responded from his only dropped shot of the day at the third with three birdies on the spin to close the gap to overnight leader Ferguson.
The 31-year-old then took advantage of a huge shift in momentum as he holed a 50-footer for eagle at the 12th, before chipping in for birdie at the next. One final gain of the day arrived at the par four 14th before parring his way in for a sweet 66.
The 2016 Challenge Tour Number One holds part of the 54-hole lead for the seventh time in his DP World Tour career, and for the second time at this event, after leading by one going into the final round of the 2019 BMW International Open.
Another Englishman, Matthew Southgate, is one of three players sharing fifth place on 12 under par, alongside Australia’s David Micheluzzi and American Patrick Reed.
Player quotes
Ewen Ferguson: “I thought I did very well, just staying there or thereabouts. Smithy was playing amazing, Romain was playing really well and I just didn’t quite have it.
“You know you’re going to get little patches where you don’t quite have it in a four-round event and I thought if I can just keep making these little awkward five-foot par putts, keep myself in it and hopefully get a couple of birdies somewhere. I did on a couple of holes and I managed to beat the course on a day where I didn’t quite have it and still in with a great chance tomorrow, so quite happy.”
Jordan Smith: “It’s never perfect but holes like 11 and 12 always help. I holed a long putt for eagle and then chipped in for birdie on 12. There was a lot of good stuff so I’m really happy.
“I said to my caddie once the chip went in that it was probably one of my top five shots I’ve ever hit. It was dead and it just came out perfectly, landed on a sixpence and luckily it went in. That was massive for momentum to get as close to Ewbo as possible and take it into tomorrow.”
Romain Langasque: “I played well again today. My long game has been strong, my putting has been a bit tricky on the front nine where I missed two small ones. I stayed patient and felt like I was confident and consistent on the back nine. That will help going into tomorrow.
“Jordan and Ewen are two friends, so I would’ve loved to be in the last group with them. Maybe it’s easier to make three or four on the last when you’re not in the last group and you don’t know what they have to do, you’re more concentrating on your own thing. It’s a good situation again, I’ve been in this position a few times and I’ve never done it. I’ve won before but I was far away from the lead. It’s a nice situation and I can’t wait for tomorrow.
Jens Dantorp: “It was good. Always nice to have a nice moving day. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that, so it’s always nice and good to be in the mix tomorrow.”
