Rozner breaks course record at Italian Open

Antoine Rozner carded a stunning 62 to surge through the field and be part of a four-way tie for the lead heading into the final round of the Italian Open.

The Frenchman was missing the cut when he bogeyed the 17th on day two but a closing birdie saw him make the weekend on the mark at one under, eight shots off the halfway lead.

He then recorded an eagle and seven birdies on day three to set a new course record and get to 10 under, where he would be joined by Danish rookie Sebastian Friedrichsen, German veteran Marcel Siem and India’s Shubhankar Sharma.

Tom McKibbin is the sole Irish player in the field, and a third-round 68 saw him move to four-under par, six shots off the lead.

But all eyes were on Rozner.

“Out of all the birdies I’ve made this week so far, the one on 18 yesterday was huge,” he said. “I bogeyed 17 to be out of the cut line and I had no other choice but to hit the pin, make the putt and that’s what I did.

“I got back this morning with the mindset of having nothing to lose. The conditions were lovely, the greens were pure. I took advantage of it, it was an amazing day.”

FULL LEADERBOARD

Siem claimed his fifth DP World Tour win and first in over eight years at last season’s Indian Open and is back on the comeback trail after undergoing shoulder surgery in February.

This is just his fourth event back and he carded a third-round 66 containing seven birdies and two bogeys.

“I’m really, really happy,” he said. “It comes earlier than I expected to play that good golf. My plan was to build up for the Open. But I’m super happy.

“Consistent golf and the bounce-backs were really important. I really enjoy this golf course. It’s very tricky and you have to fiddle around all the time.”

Sharma was bogey-free as he carded a 67, with Friedrichsen registering a 68 with five birdies and two bogeys.

Spaniard Adrian Otaegui was one shot off the lead after a 69, one clear of a group including England’s Andrew Wilson, with 26 players within four shots of the lead.