As the third round of the D+D Real Czech Challenge wrapped up at the Royal Beroun Golf Club, Benjamin Follett-Smith emerged two strokes ahead, positioning himself neatly for a potential second Challenge Tour victory.
The Zimbabwean golfer dazzled with a seven-under-par 63, elevating his total to an impressive 22 under par for the tournament, closely followed by Finland’s Oliver Lindell, who is also making waves with a remarkable finish to his round.
Starting the day tied for the lead with Maxence Giboudot, Follett-Smith quickly distinguished himself with a flurry of birdies early in the day.
Reflecting on his performance, he said, “The front nine helped me out. Overall, I’ve been playing solid the whole week and I came out today and was doing the same kind of thing.”
His consistent play has been a major theme throughout the tournament, laying the groundwork for his success.
His strategy was straightforward and effective. “I was making a few putts and hitting a lot of shots within ten feet which always helps,” Follett-Smith commented on his approach, emphasising the importance of good putting and accurate driving.
The course’s consistent condition also played a role, as he noted, “By hitting your driver well and putting well, you can get away with it a bit around here.
The consistency of the golf course and how it plays has definitely helped my scoring.”
Despite a late bogey on the 17th hole, his first of the week, Follett-Smith remains in the lead as the tournament heads into its final day.
With a win here, he could make significant strides in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, where he’s currently placed 74th.
A victory could propel him as high as 26th, with the top 20 players advancing to the DP World Tour at the end of the season.
Looking ahead to the final round and beyond, Follett-Smith is determined and hopeful. “I know it’s going to be tough, and I know it’s not easy to win, so I’m going to be bullish, hold myself up high and go for it,” he stated.
He also reflected on his season’s strategy, saying, “This year I’ve made a lot more cuts but haven’t had many great finishes, but I’ve been playing good golf so the results were going to come. Hopefully this week is the one.”
Follett-Smith’s ambitions extend beyond just this tournament, eyeing a strong finish in the upcoming events in China and Mallorca.
“I think the timing is right. If I win, I would jump inside the top 30 in the Rankings which helps, and then it opens it up for two big weeks in China. Once you’re in Mallorca for the final event, it can be anyone’s week.”
With competitors like Haraldur Magnus and Giboudot just four shots behind, and others like Sam Hutsby also in contention, the final round promises to be highly competitive.
The action resumes early tomorrow, with Follett-Smith, Lindell, and Magnus leading the field off at 9:50 am.
