VERSAILLES, July 2, 2011 (AFP) - England's James Morrison and Mark Foster led the French Open after Saturday's third round, while world number four Martin Kaymer moved to within striking distance after a four-under 67.
Second-round leader Morrison looked set to lead again going into Sunday's finale, but he shed three shots in the last two holes for a 72, allowing Foster to close the gap on him as they both finished at nine-under-par 204
Foster's third successive 68 had set the clubhouse target on nine under par and the 35-year-old will go out in the final group on the final day for the second week running.
In Munich last week at the BMW International, the Englishman led by two, but finished joint-third behind Spaniards Pablo Larrazabal and Sergio Garcia.
A further shot back on 295 in third place was Scotland's former US Amateur champion, Richie Ramsay. He was left bemoaning two dropped shots in the last two holes as he came in with a 69.
Kaymer and French veteran Thomas Levet were in joint-fourth place, three behind, after both shot 67.
The German, who won here two years ago, had an eagle on the 14th to give himself a good chance of finishing in the top eight, which would see him reclaim the world number three spot he lost last week to US Open winner Rory McIlroy.
"My short game was very good and the eagle kept me going -- it's put me in a good position," Kaymer said.
"Last year I had a chance and made double bogeys on 15 and 18. Hopefully it will be different tomorrow."
Crowd favourite Levet made the biggest move of the day, although he joined the list of players who fell victim to the tough par-four closing hole.
The former Ryder Cup player and 2002 Open runner-up was six under for the day, but then pulled his drive into the water and ran up a double bogey six.
"I felt like I was in the Ryder Cup -- it was so noisy," said the 42-year-old, who has been mentioned as a possible captain of Europe when the venue here outside Versailles hosts the 2018 match.
"Imagine if you multiply the numbers (of fans) by six or seven -- it's going to be nuts. Days like today keep me competing. You make putts, you make people happy."
Colin Montgomerie managed only a 74 to fall back to two over and now needs a miracle to claim the top-five finish he needs to earn the spot on offer in next month's British Open at Royal St George's. He is in 36th place.
Leading scores on Saturday in the third round of the French Open at the par-71, Le Golf National course:
204 - Mark Foster (ENG) 68 68 68, James Morrison (ENG) 66 66 72
205 - Richie Ramsay (SCO) 69 68 68
207 - Martin Kaymer (GER) 71 69 67, Thomas Levet (FRA) 70 70 67
208 - Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 66 71 71
209 - Richard Green (AUS) 65 68 76, Bradley Dredge (WAL) 72 68 69
210 - Anthony Wall (ENG) 68 73 69, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 69 70 71, Jamie Donaldson (ENG), 70 71 69, Simon Khan (ENG) 70 70 70
211 - Brendan Steele (USA) 74 70 67, Hennie Otto (RSA) 69 71 71, Matthew Nixon (ENG) 68 69 74, Graeme Storm 65 75 71 (ENG), Gregory Havret (FRA) 71 70 70
212 - Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 74 69 69, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 72 70 70, Rafael Echenique (ARG) 70 71 71, Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 72 67 73, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68 70 74
213 - Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 71 73 69, Robert Rock (ENG) 70 74 69, Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 75 69 69, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 71 70 72, Rhys Davies (WAL) 71 72 70, Pablo Martin (ESP) 74 69 70
214 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 68 76 70, Anders Hansen (DEN) 70 69 75, Alexander Noren (SWE) 74 70 70, Gareth Maybin (NIR) 70 72 72, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 68 75 71, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 72 71 71, Seve Benson (ENG) 71 70 73