Marcus Kinhult looked like he might fall apart early in his round Saturday at the Open de France, but the 21-year-old Swede refused to crumble on moving day.
Kinhult pulled his tee shot at the par three second into the water, took a double-bogey but then fought his way back with five straight birdies to close his first nine holes. He went on to shoot 67 and will take a two-shot lead into Sunday’s finale at Le Golf National.
It won’t be easy for Kinhult to get that first win as he has some big names chasing him. He’ll play in the final group with England’s Chris Wood, who played with Kinhult on Saturday, matching his 67. Woods stands at eight-under.
Sergio Garcia made the biggest move of the day. Garcia fired a seven-under par 64 despite a bogey on the 18th. He’s in at seven-under and will play in the next-to-last pairing with countryman Jon Rahm. Rahm, who was up-and-down most of the day, closed with a pair of birdies for 68 and will start four back of Kinhult.
American Justin Thomas shot 69 and was tied for fifth at four-under par through 54-holes.
