Trio top leaderboard into last round

Argentine Eduardo Romero kept alive his hopes of becoming the oldest winner on the European Tour, despite closing with a bogey in a French Open third round dominated by home players on Saturday.

Romero, whose 51st birthday comes up on July 17, dropped two shots in the last three holes to slip back into a three-way tie for the lead with Frenchmen Jean Van de Velde and defending champion Jean-Francois Remesy at nine-under 204.

Remesy, the first French winner of his home championship for 35 years, made his move for back-to-back titles with a four-under-par 67 while Van de Velde shot a 71 and Romero 72 for the trio to finish a stroke ahead of the field.

Although Romero was disappointed with his late stumble, he remained confident he could eclipse Irishman Des Smyth as the tour's oldest winner. Smyth won the 2001 Madeira Island Open aged 48 and 34 days.

"My mind is very good," said the 50-year-old Romero. "I have one more day to go and I'm still up there. I am feeling fit and strong."

The Argentine, who charged into the lead on Friday with a course record 62, has already come close to becoming the tour's oldest champion, having won the 2002 Scottish Open when just three days short of his 48th birthday.

Dane Soren Hansen and Briton Jonathan Lomas, who fired matching 71s, shared fourth place at eight under but four French players are in the top eight, with Francois Delamontagne two shots off the pace and Gregory Havret three strokes adrift.

Remesy's move through the field delighted a large gallery, even though the home crowd were dismayed to watch him also bogey the last. Delamontagne lost a chance of sharing the lead by double-bogeying 18.

"I'm well-placed to take over from myself," joked Remesy. "The third round is always key.

"It is great for French golf and for the tournament for four home players to be in the top eight."

Van de Velde, who threw away the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie with a triple bogey at the final hole, can reclaim his tour card if he can maintain a run that began with him leading after the first round with a 64.

After three years of injury trouble and two reconstructive knee operations, the 39-year-old is in position to earn enough money to be back on tour full-time next year after playing on invitations this season.

"Everything tomorrow is a bonus because only a few months ago I was in agony," said Van de Velde. "I will take whatever comes."

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