Two dropped shots in the last two holes cost local favourite Marc Farry the outright lead going into the final round of the Novotel Perrier Open de France at Golf de Medoc. The Frenchman now shares the top of the leaderboard with overnight leader Greg Turner and Retief Goosen on 11-under par.
Farry, backed by the home support, moved to the head of the field with birdies at the 11th,14th and 15th but a hooked five iron cost him a bogey on the 17th and when he dropped another shot after finding a bunker with his second on the last he was back into a three-way tie.
"I have been fighting against my hook for the past two weeks," said Farry. "It had been all right for the first two days but had to come back on the 17th and 18th. It would have been better to have a two shot lead but things can change on the first hole tomorrow."
South Africa's Retief Goosen moved into a share of the lead courtesy of a bogey free round of 68, three under par despite missing a number of birdie chances.
"It's probably the best I have played for three days," he said. "I only missed one fairway and one green in regulation. I just couldn't make a putt. Tomorrow if I get a few putts in I can shoot a low round and have a chance. I'm looking forward to it - it's been a long time since I've been in there."
Wine connoisseur Greg Turner, who is enjoying sampling the local produce as much as playing the golf course, maintained his position in the last group after a round of 70, one under par. "If you can escape with a 70 on a day when you are not feeling totally comfortable then perhaps you have dodged a bullet," said the New Zealander.
"It wasn't terrible by any means - I had a lot of solid shots but never felt quite as in control as I have the last two days. I just had to hang in there and not shoot myself in the foot."
A further shot back is England's Andrew Sherborne after birdies on the 15th and 18th pulled him back to within a shot of the leaders, while former Masters champion Ian Woosnam is poised to make a charge after a round of 66, equalling the best of the day.
Knowing he had to make up some ground on the leaders the Welshman came flying out of the blocks with five birdies in an outward nine of 30. Two bogeys at the 12th and 13th temporarily halted his charge but another brace of birdies on the closing two holes put him right in contention.
