Nicholas Colsearts has had three runner-up finishes since playing for the winning European Ryder Cup team in the miracle at Medinah seven years ago. Picture by GETTY IMAGES
NICOLAS Colsaerts will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Amundi Open de France after a Saturday round of 67 took him to 13-under, at Le Golf National.
The big-hitting Belgian claimed the last of his two European Tour titles in 2012, the same season he was part of the famous Miracle at Medinah when Europe came back from 10-4 down to win the Ryder Cup.
Colsaerts said: “I’m a bit on a mission. I have a lot to play for. It’s not like actually winning this tournament is at the forefront of my mind.
“I stil. have to play shots. It got a little bit easier at the end but it’s a difficult course to play. If you just lose a little bit of focus, which I think if I looked at the leaderboard and everything, I might do.
“I’m in control of a lot of things, my striking, my emotions, for whatever reason I can’t tell you. It would be amazing to win this thing.
“But like I said, if I stay away from thinking that, I think my chances will be a lot higher than if I see this thing right in front of me.”
Colsearts has had three second places since then and has finished inside the top 100 on the Race to Dubai Rankings every season, but is currently 114th and battling to keep his playing privileges.
South Africa’s George Coetzee’s round of 70 took him to 10-under, as he kept within touching distance of the lead despite a double bogey on the 13th, which had followed a monster putt for birdie on the previous hole.
Coetzee, whose last win came in March 2018 in his native South Africa, said: “I was hoping it would continue but came to an abrupt halt on 13.
“Kind of the way I’ve been playing this week. It’s either hot off the blocks, or just hold on until you find something, and when you find something, just try and keep it.
“You’d think the putt on 12 was the best putt I hit today, but the putt on 13 for bogey was probably the best putt I hit.
“Because if I had not hit a good putt, I might have left myself a tester for about a double, probably would have been a triple.
“I’m reasonably happy getting out of that hole with a double. I guess I’ll have to play really good golf tomorrow.”
Jamie Donaldson is another Ryder Cup star battling to keep his card and the Welshman celebrated his birthday by recording a 66 to sit one shot further back at nine-under alongside America’s Kurt Kitayama, who is seeking a third win of his rookie season on the European Tour.
Donaldson, who hit the winning putt at Gleneagles in 2014, said: “I played nicely most of the way.
“Very happy, being my birthday and all. You don’t really try to remember your birthday when you get to 40-plus, but yeah, a memorable day on my birthday.
“Just keep playing the way I’ve been playing the last three days, which is being aggressive. I’ve got a game plan, but I need to be pushing on to try to win the tournament.”
Kitayama, who is favourite to win the Siry Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award after his two wins in his first four months on tour, said: “I just didn’t make as many putts as I made the first two days.
“Still got plenty of opportunities. Just didn’t roll it well. I won’t think about it too much, just felt a little off today. Just look forward to tomorrow.
“I’m quite a few back, so going to have to stay a little aggressive and then, hopefully get off to a hot start, put on a little pressure early. See what happens.”
Dane Joachim B Hansen carded a remarkable 69 as he overcame a quintuple bogey nine on the 13th to get to eight-under alongside Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan and Scot Richie Ramsay.
Benjamin Hebert remains the leading French player at seven-under after rounds of 66, 71 and 69, alongside German Major winner Martin Kaymer and South African Brandon Stone.P
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