Julien Guerrier takes one-shot lead in Italy

Julien Guerrier fired eight birdies and three bogeys to close with a 5-under 66 for a 12-under total to take a one-shot lead heading into the final day of the DS Automobiles Italian Open.

190 starts across 15 years on Tour.

Leader Julien Guerrier will go in search of his maiden win tomorrow.#DS80OpendItalia pic.twitter.com/fIjXRWAKh0

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 6, 2023

“I started with a bogey on two and after that I stayed patient. I know with this kind of course, my coach said, ‘You are going to play some good shots, so try to manage and don’t give too many shots away to the course’, and I did that.

“I tried to stay patient and to do my job on every shot, and you know, it is difficult on every hole so anything can happen.

“Of course we will speak (with friend Langasque) and I hope we are going to have a good game.”

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Fellow Frenchman Romain Langasque broke the course record with a bogey-free 62 featuring an eagle at the par-4 16th for a share of second place at 11-under alongside Poland’s Adrian Meronk who closed with a 66.

“I did not expect nine under,” said Langasque, “I didn’t expect to shoot a very low score on this course because it’s quite a tough course.

“I didn’t expect that score and I am very happy about it.”

Matthieu Pavon, who led after the first two rounds, scored a 72 and lies in a share of fourth place at 8-under alongside South Africa’s Daniel van Tonder (67), Germany‘s Marcel Siem (67) and Finland‘s Tapio Pulkkanen (68).