Joel Moscatel and Wil Besseling surged to a shared lead at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge after battling through soggy conditions on moving day in Normandy.
With the final round looming, both players hold a two-stroke advantage, each sitting comfortably at 12 under par.
Moscatel’s Meteoric Rise
Spanish golfer Joel Moscatel began his round four shots behind the leader but quickly made up ground with birdies on the second, third, and eighth holes, completing a bogey-free front nine.
Despite heavy rain impacting play as the final groups made the turn, the 25-year-old continued his impressive form, adding four more birdies to card a six-under 66. Reflecting on his performance, Moscatel said:
“I played really solid today, same as yesterday. The end was tough with the rain, but my caddie and I did a good job, so I’m happy with that.
The rain changed things a little bit. It was a bit uncomfortable because it was raining a lot, then stopped for a bit, then raining again. It’s also really hot, so having the rain start didn’t help.”
Moscatel, who has already tasted victory this season on the Road to Mallorca with a win at the Challenge de España, is eager to add another title to his resume.
“It would mean a lot [to win]. Every win is amazing, but there’s still a lot of golf to play, so anything can happen tomorrow.”
Besseling’s Steady Hand
Dutch veteran Wil Besseling, who started the day in a tie for the lead at ten under par, maintained his composure through the rain-soaked conditions.
He navigated a steady front nine before capitalizing on the three par-fives on the back nine to post a two-under 70.
Besseling was satisfied with his performance despite the challenging weather:
“I’m happy with my score of two under. I played steady, was good off the tee, and didn’t make too many bogeys today.
I couldn’t get it really close coming into the greens, but I stayed patient.
I thought [the greens] reacted a little different compared to the other days. I hit the first green and spun it back with a 9 iron and some chips skipped through – I didn’t expect that.”
Looking ahead to the final round, Besseling remains focused on maintaining his form. “It would be nice to hit a few close tomorrow.
I think the key point here is hitting the fairways and getting in position. I did that really well the last couple of days, so I’m going to do more of the same tomorrow and hopefully it’s going to be my day.”
The Chase Pack
Behind the leaders, German Marc Hammer, Englishman George Mason, and Australian Jeff Guan share third place at ten under par.
Englishman Alfie Plant and Frenchman Benjamin Hébert are just a shot further back in sixth.
Tied for eighth at eight under par are Frenchman Félix Mory and former Ryder Cup player Chris Wood from England.
Final Round Anticipation
The final round of the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge promises to be a thrilling affair, with Moscatel and Besseling teeing off alongside Hammer at 11:21 am local time.
The day kicks off at 7:20 am, and with so many players in contention, the excitement is palpable.
As the tournament reaches its climax, all eyes will be on Moscatel and Besseling to see if they can hold their nerve and fend off the chasing pack.
One thing is certain: the final round of the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge is set to deliver high drama and top-class golf.
