Jordan leads the way – but there could yet be a Matt finish in the offing
Jordan Smith’s solitary European Tour win came on German soil in 2017, but he will look to repeat the feat as he takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the BMW International Open in Munich.
However, the Englishman faces serious competition from compatriots Matthew Fitzpatrick and Matt Wallace, respectively one and two strokes behind his 13-under total at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried.
Smith, winner of the European Open in Hamburg two years ago, carded a bogey-free 66 to assume top spot from overnight leader Martin Kaymer, after the home favourite could manage only a disappointing three-over 75 to drop back to eight-under-par.
“I like Germany. I missed my first cut of the season in Denmark a couple of weeks ago, but the game was still looking good for that week,” Smith said.
“It’s been feeling good for a long while, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Fitzpatrick, whose record of winning in each of the last four seasons is only matched by Sweden’s Alex Noren, shot a third-round 65 to move into joint second with Austrian Matthias Schwab.
“I’ve played well so far this year. I want to win as many tournaments as I can this year,” said the Yorkshireman.
“If I’m putting myself in position where I’m a few behind on Saturday, it gives me the green light to go at it.
“If I was leading I’d probably hold back a little bit. Today allowed me to be a little more aggressive.”
Austrian Schwab said: “A few things came together today although I had a rusty start. Long game-wise I kept it together with a few good up and downs and a chip-in on two for birdie. I then just had it going a bit and made a few putts and that’s how I shot 65.
“I wasn’t trying to set any targets, I was really just focusing on myself, I was very much in the moment and just focusing on the next shot and it worked out okay.”
Defending champion Wallace’s four-under 68 lifted him to 11-under and well within striking distance despite some scrappy play.
“That wasn’t pretty today,” he said. “I wasn’t playing from the fairway a lot, but I shot better than I did yesterday so it’s a funny game. It’s a good position, we’re in contention.
“I played great yesterday, so I need to do something similar to that and hole the putts.”
The three Scots to make the cut in Munich – David Law, Bob Macintyre and David Drysdale – are 11, 12 and 14 shots respectively behind leader Smith heading into the final round. Jean-françois Remésy and Jarmo Sandelin will head into the final round of the Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship, hosted by Ian Woosnam, in a share of the lead at five-under-par after battling tough conditions on a windy day at Trevose Golf & Country Club.
The pair will take a one shot lead into today’s final round of the inaugural championship, ahead of former Ryder Cup player Barry Lane and South Africa’s Chris Williams.
England’s Peter Baker is still in the hunt to win back-to-back Staysure Tour titles after carding a one over par round of 73 on day two. He sits at three-underpar, two off the lead, alongside compatriot Peter Wilson, Scotland’s Andrew Oldcorn, Australian Peter O’malley and Carl Suneson of Spain.
Benjamin Poke is the highest seed remaining in the Andalucía – Costa del Sol Match Play 9 on the Challenge Tour, after progressing through three nine-hole matches on Day Three to book his place in today’s quarter-finals.
The Dane, who is the No. 4 seed in the tournament, saw off Filip Mruzek, Dale Whitnell and finally Matthew Jordan at Valle Romano Golf to set up a meeting with countryman Rasmus Højgaard.
Joining Poke and Højgaard in the quarters is Norway’s Eirik Tage Johansen, who will face Scot Connor Syme for a place in the semis, while Carlos Pigem, the only remaining Spaniard, will face Robin Sciot-siegrist.
The Frenchman’s countryman Ugo Coussaud will tee it up in the first game of the day against England’s Chris Hanson.