Benjamin Follett-Smith and Stuart Manley share the lead ahead of final round at the Blot Open de Bretagne.
The duo, who carded rounds of 71 and 67 respectively, will start the final day with a one shot lead at the 16th edition of the event held at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André.
Both players finished their second rounds on Saturday morning with Manley signing for an eight under par 62 to take the 36-hole lead. However, he struggled to continue his form later in the day as he carded a level par front nine.
Meanwhile, Follett-Smith, who won the first event on the 2023 Road to Mallorca at the Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open, had a strong opening nine holes. The Zimbabwean birdied the first hole before making four gains around the turn starting at the seventh hole to take the outright lead.
The back nine was a different story with both players dropping shots as the wind picked up. However, it was Manley who made a birdie at 18 to join the lead with Follett-Smith, who is looking to claim his second win of the season.
“Last time I won I didn’t get much going for the following weeks of the season, so it’s nice to be back in contention,” he said.
“I’m extremely pleased with my play today. I was flying on the front nine and using the confidence to my advantage, giving myself chancing on those holes. I went into the back nine trying to hit shots, but it just didn’t happen but not everything always goes your way, but the front nine definitely did, which was very pleasing.
“You have to play every hole to its own. Each nine is like a different side of a coin. You have to visualise your shots and accept that it’s tough and the wind is blowing hard. You have to commit to your shots and if it comes off, then it comes off, if it doesn’t then it doesn’t.
Englishman Lee Slattery and Spain’s Manuel Elvira are a shot behind the leading par after their rounds of 67 and 66 respectively. Meanwhile, there is a group of four players four shots further back at four under par.
The final round will begin at 8:40am local time with the leading pair teeing off at 10:30am local time.
