Miguel Angel Jiménez looked over his shoulder and found two of his Ryder Cup colleagues breathing down his neck along with Sweden’s Pierre Fulke in the Trophée Lancôme at Saint-Nom-La-Breteche.
Jiménez, the defending champion, takes a slender one stroke lead into the final round as he attempts to land a French double – but lurking just behind him are Fulke, European No.1 Colin Montgomerie and Ryder Cup rookie, Jarmo Sandelin.
The prominent showing by Europe’s Ryder Cup men augurs well for The Country Club next week, and Jiménez is in dazzling form for the second year running at the magnificent French venue.
He shot a third round 70, one under par, for an 11 under par total of 202, having at one stage held a four shot advantage over the rest of the field.
Fulke, after a pair of 69s, weighed in with an impressive 65 to move within a stroke of the leader on 203 while the ever-consistent Montgomerie conjured up a three under par 68 to move menacingly into the frame on 204.
Sandelin shot a round of 69 to finish the day on eight under, alongside a rookie from Valderrama, Ignacio Garrido. As a result, three of the current European side who will fly on Concorde to Boston on Monday are all vying for the prestigious title and the chance to go into the Ryder Cup match with confidence high.
Local favourite, Jean Van de Velde, and Masters champion, José Maria Olazábal, both continued to shadow each other round by round. The two Ryder Cup men are locked on 209, four under par, after matching scores of 68, 70 and 71.
Open champion Paul Lawrie maintained his improved form after a disappointing Victor Chandler British Masters, when he missed the cut for the first time since his triumph at Carnoustie. Lawrie added a 70 to his earlier rounds of 72 and 68 for a three under par total of 210.
England’s Greg Owen, who claimed a share of fourth place last week to secure his playing privileges for next season, showed that his Woburn form was not a flash in the pan as he fired a 67 to follow his earlier 73 and 66 to stay in the hunt on 206 alongside Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Spain’s Santiago Luna.
