<p>Matt Fitzpatrick. Picture: Getty Images</p>
Matt Fitzpatrick carded a brilliant six-under 65 to take a commanding five-stroke lead into the final round of the FedEx Open de France.
The world number four made his first bogey of the week at the eighth but seven birdies helped him get to 19-under par and match Seve Ballesteros’ 1985 record for the lowest score under par after 54 holes at the event.
"Just another really, really solid day,” said the English star, who leads by five shots at Le Golf National from France’s Tom Vaillant and by six from Brandon Stone, Kristoffer Reitan, Angel Hidalgo, Eugenio Chacarra and Jeff Winther.
“I felt really comfortable out there,” Fiitzpatrick said. “And I felt like that my game was pretty solid all day.
"I was disappointed to drop my one shot, to be honest. It will kind of stick with me."
As for matching Ballesteros’ 54-hole record, Fitzpatrick just wants to add an 11th DP World Tour title to three wins on the PGA Tour already this year.
“It would be amazing to be part of the history,” he said. “I said at the start of the week, this tournament has a lot of history and a lot of great winners.
"I think it was my second professional start as well. So, you know, some form of connection here as well.
"I feel like I'm in a position that if I go and shoot a good round tomorrow, then obviously it makes it almost impossible to catch. But long way to go, and just take it hole by hole.”
Vaillant shot 67 to move into solo second on 14-under as Chacarra, finished birdie-eagle, having started at the 10th, for a best-of-the week 62.
Tommy Fleetwood, the 2017 champion, was six under after Friday's round but was forced to withdraw before the start of the third round due to illness.
On the Ladies European Tour, Douglas’ Sara Byrne was the only Irish player to make the one-over-par cut in the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open in Milan.
The Cork star shot a one-over-par 73 to qualify on the mark, but she trails Sweden’s Moa Folke, Germany’s Alexandra Forsterling and South Africa’s Casandra Alexander by ten strokes at Golf Club Milano.
The trio of leaders have a three-shot advantage over American Anna Morgan, England’s Cara Gainer and Alice Hewson, Norway’s Dorthea Forbrigd and Slovenia’s Pia Babnik.
Olivia Mehaffey (76) finished on three-over with Aine Donegan (74), four-over, Annabel Wison (73) five over and Anna Foster (75) eight over.
Article Link: Fitzpatrick extends lead to five strokes at Open de France - News - Irish Golf Desk