American Xander Schauffele will take a one-shot lead over local hero Hideki Matsuyama into what looks set to be a thrilling final round of the men’s Olympic golf tournament.
After yesterday’s sensational 63, Schauffele carded a three-under 68 to move to -14 for the week, with Matsuyama a shot back and Team GB’s Paul Casey in a tie for third with Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz on -12.
Ireland’s Rory McIlory and first-round leader Sepp Straka of Austria are among four players tied for fifth a shot further back, while Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood joins Shane Lowry on -10 after a seven-under 64.
Matsuyama, who became Japan’s first male major winner with his Masters success at Augusta earlier this year, is seen as one of the poster boys of the Games. The 25-year-old first had to finish his second round, which had been halted with two holes to play by poor weather on Friday evening and birdie on 17 followed by an excellent par save on 18 gave him the ideal start to the day and after dropping a shot at the first on his third round, he carded five birdies in the next 17 bogey-free holes to stay on Schauffele’s coattails.
Casey, looking to emulate Justin Rose’s Rio 2016 gold medal, enjoyed a similar round with five birdies and just one bogey, but it was teammate Fleetwood whose charge into contention caught the eye.
The 30-year-old looked out of it after dropped shots at four and five having started the day three-under, but a run of seven birdies in the next nine holes saw him fly up the leaderboard.
