Kinhult keeps two-shot advantage

MARCUS KINHULT of Sweden carded a 4-under 67 and maintained his two-shot lead going into the final day of the French Open.

Kinhult shot five birdies in-a-row just before the turn to get to 10 under, and he kept his advantage with a bogey and a birdie to stay two shots ahead of England’s Chris Wood at Le Golf National, where the Ryder Cup will be staged in September.

Wood recovered from quite a poor start to produce two birdies and an eagle before the turn before finishing off with a 67.

Sergio Garcia, meanwhile, moved to third at 7 under after an impressive 64 with eight birdies, one shot ahead of fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm, who finished with successive birdies for a 68.

World No. 2 Justin Thomas carded a 69 as did Julian Suri. Both Americans are at 4 under going into the final round.

Amid the fireworks, Paul Dunne was keeping his card tidy at two under for the day until a loose finish when he leaked shots on the 13th and 18th as he signed for a level par 71.

That left him on one under par in a tie for 11th alongside Shane Lowry who repaired some of Friday’s d0amage with a fine 67.

Shane Lowry’s round began inauspiciously with a bogey five but he steadied the ship with birdies at the sixth and ninth before picking up further strokes to par on the 13th, 16th and the 18th which has been a graveyard for so many.

Graeme McDowell was one of those who suffered most with an eight there on Friday and he again felt its sting with a dropped shot after a topsy-turvy round.

McDowell picked off six birdies but three bogeys and a double on the 15th stalled his progress.

A 70 left him on two over par overall and tied for 30th.

He will need to go very low today to have any chance of a top ten finish and a possible exemption for The Open.