South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl emerged from a packed leaderboard to take a two-shot lead after carding a tournament-best 64 in the third round of the Open de France at Le Golf National on Saturday.
Van Zyl, 36, was one of nine players parked on five-under-par halfway through his round before a triple-birdie burst around the turn propelled him into the lead.
He held onto that with a run of pars down the back nine before birdies at 16 and 18, where he hit a superb approach over the water to three feet, gave him the outright lead at 10-under.
Two shots further back was Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer, who signed for a 65, with Bernd Wiesberger of Austria alone on seven-under thanks to a 66.
French No. 1 Victor Dubuisson (69) and former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer of Germany (69) were both four shots off the lead, level with James Morrison of England (68).
“I just felt really comfortable out there today,” said Van Zyl, who has remained during his career very much in the shadow of major title-winning countrymen such as Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
“Felt good out there yesterday, as well. Finished in an ambulance, but other than that, I played nicely tee to green. I hit it really good. I think I missed one fairway, hit 18 out of 18 greens. Made a couple of putts when I needed to,” he said.
Winless on the European Tour despite a couple of runner-up finishes, Van Zyl has under his belt 13 wins in the second-tier Sunshine Tour back home and he believes that could help him on Sunday.
“I think it will play a big role. End of the day, it’s the same situation. Stage is a lot bigger. I’ve been in this position a couple of times. Hopefully tomorrow we can pull through,” he said.
Fast-emerging 25-year-old Kieffer has made the cut in all 17 tournaments he has played in this year, although he is still chasing his first win.
“I feel like I’m good enough to win,” he said. “I think I learned enough in the last two tournaments where I was in the final round to win, but we will see. I don’t know if it’s the time. I just have to hit good golf shots tomorrow and then we will see.”
Dubuisson, who is looking at 25 to become the first home winner of the French Open since Thomas Levet in 2011, said that his chances were alive, but all would depend on how he starts.
Most of the fireworks early in a day when the temperatures again soared into the mid-30s came from Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee.
Having just made the halfway cut by two strokes after rounds of 70 and 74, Thongchai needed a big early effort to get back in contention, which he did by birdieing the first six holes.
That shot him up the leaderboard to four-under for the tournament through 14 holes, matching the overnight leading mark.
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