As the FedEx Open de France heads into its final round, Jesper Svensson stands a mere stroke ahead of his closest competitors.
Svensson, aiming for his second DP World Tour victory during his inaugural season, played a strong game, carding a four-under-par 67 to reach a 13-under total.
Starting the day tied for the lead, the 28-year-old Swede quickly distinguished himself by notching four birdies within the first six holes, which put him three strokes ahead of the pack.
He maintained his lead with steady pars until the 13th hole, where he gained another shot. However, a slip on the 17th brought him back to 13 under, just as Sam Bairstow closed the gap with a bogey-free six-under-par 65, positioning himself just one stroke behind Svensson.
Jesper Svensson: “It was a test of patience out there. I hit the ball really well today I thought. A lot of good looks. Hit a lot of good putts.
I mean it was a good day but definitely a test of patience. There was a lot of putts that just snuck past. Hopefully they will drop tomorrow.
“Singapore was a great week, and so far this has been a great week as well. All I want to do is have a chance tomorrow on 18, and that’s what I’m trying and keep playing for.”
Thorbjørn Olesen, known for his role in the victorious 2018 Ryder Cup team at Le Golf National, also emerged as a formidable contender, matching Bairstow’s 12-under total after shooting a 67.
Olesen is revisiting the grounds where he nearly clinched the title in 2011, hoping this year might mark his triumphant return.
The rookie duo Svensson and Bairstow, both graduates from the European Challenge Tour and ranked fifth and 18th respectively in last year’s Road to Mallorca Rankings, are proving their mettle on the professional stage.
Not far behind, English golfers Dan Bradbury and Joe Dean are tied for fourth at 11 under, with Dean climbing seven spots on the leaderboard after a stellar five-under 66.
This intense competition sets the stage for what promises to be a riveting final round at the historic Le Golf National.
