Xander ScHotele still in the lead at the Tokyo Olympics, the French left behind

The third day of the Olympic tournament was hot in every sense of the word. The east course of the Kasumigaseki Country Club was bathed in bright sunshine and suffered from the battering of the 60 athletes entered. This moving day was the scene of very many scores under the par thanks to more accessible flag positions and an ever so immaculate layout.

Xander ScHotele continues his conquest of a first Olympic title after a day under control. The American signs 68 (-3) to keep the tournament lead at -14. But he is now threatened very closely by Hideki Matsuyama. The Japanese who completed his second round this Saturday morning in 64 strokes (-7) followed in the same rhythm. His 67 (-4) allows him to climb on the provisional podium with one lap from the goal.

Who else for a medal?

The leaderboard tightens in view of the final stretch which promises to be thrilling. And some big names are in the race for a medal.

Paul Casey is showing youthful enthusiasm for his first Games since the start of the week. The 44-year-old Englishman is on track for a medal after a 66 this Saturday. At -12 he is only two nods to the side of the Mexican Carlos Ortiz, author of a 69 in this third round.

Rory McIlroy continues his conquest of the summits by signing 67 this Saturday. Six birdies against two bogey and here is the Northern Irishman in 5th provisional rank at -11, that is to say within shooting range of the podium.

Tommy Fleetwood plays 64 to gain 15 spots and ambush 9th at -10. The Englishman is also back in the medal race; a place shared by the Irishman Shane Lowry, author of a 68.

The French far from the account

It took a very long day to hope for a chance for a medal on Sunday. But the two French representatives failed to dominate the Kasumigaseki Country Club and the medals are no longer within shooting range.

Romain Langasque did the best with a new score under par (69, -2). Despite an entry bogey, the 215th player in the world managed to glean three birdies in the first leg. He added another birdie at 14 but conceded a point at 18. ” It was still a solid day, the Frenchman told us. Despite my bogey at 1 I manage to pass the going under the par and it could have been even better. I chip / 2 putts on the par 5 of 7, I miss 4m for birdie at 9 and I do not fit a complicated putt of less than 2m at 10. It could have been a good sequence but things did not start. . I got a little further from the flags on the return but it was still a solid game that makes me think I can score 7 or 8 below tomorrow (Sunday) with the same game. »

In a day when the scoring was very low overall, Romain lost eight places in the standings and now ranks 32nd.

Very complicated day on the other hand for Antoine Rozner who suffered this Saturday. His 73 (+2) took him down from 15th to 42nd place. Four bogeys and a birdie on the outward journey, two birdies against a bogey on the return, the Parisian’s card was far too heavy in this moving day.

What else to remember?

The Belgian duo Thomas Pieters / Thomas Detry is in the exact same position after this third round: 14th. Pieters post 64 this Saturday (second best score of the day) thanks in particular to a sequence of eagle at 17 (par 4) and birdie at 18! Detry signs 68 by conceding only two points at the Japanese route. At -8 total the two Belgians can hope for a podium on Sunday, but it will take a crazy day to achieve it.

Collin Morikawa, the field’s best player in the world ranking (3rd), position 67 and climbs up to 17th place at -7.

Sungjae Im signs the best score of this third round with a 63 (-8) which catapults him to 17th place (35 places gleaned!). The worst part is that the South Korean conceded two bogeys on the course.