Justin Rose storms into Olympic Golf lead

• Team GB’s Justin Rose in gold medal position after three rounds
• Open champ Henrik Stenson just one shot behind
• 36-hole leader Fraser slips into bronze medal place

Olympic Men’s Golf: Rnd 3
-12 Justin Rose; -11 Henrik Stenson; -9 Marcus Fraser; -6 David Lingmerth, Bubba Watson, Emiliano Grillo; -5 Mikko Ilonen, Padraig Harrington, Matt Kuchar, Gregory Bourdy, Rafa Cabrera Bello Selected others: -3 Rickie Fowler, Danny Willett; -2 Sergio Garcia; Level Martin Kaymer

Justin Rose will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the men’s Olympic golf competition in Rio de Janeiro.

The 36-year-old former US Open champion shot a six-under 65 to charge to the top of the leaderboard on 12-under-par after 54 holes, with Open champion Henrik Stenson a further shot adrift on 11-under.

Australian Marcus Fraser, who led after both of the opening rounds, currently sits in the bronze medal position, after struggling to a one-over 72 today.

“It would mean so much to win the gold medal” – Justin Rose

Rose, who recorded the first-known Olympic hole-in-one during the first round, started the day four shots adrift of Fraser but quickly claimed the leaderboard after playing his first five holes in four-under after a birdie, two eagles and a bogey. He came home in two-under, holing a tricky par putt at the last to led with 18 holes to go.

Read more -> Bubba hits 30ft putt… 5ft?!

“‘It would mean so much to win the gold medal,” he told The Telegraph afterwards. “All week we’ve seen athletes who dedicate their lives to win gold and what it means to them, so it would be unbelievable to join them. But I can’t afford to get ahead of myself. A one shot lead is nothing with 18 holes to go.”

CONTINUES BELOW…

Stenson, who had a peculiar exchange wth a crocodile on the 14th hole of his round, had two bogeys and an eagle in a level-par front nine but came home in three-under-par to close the gap on Rose.

“In my mind, I’m still going after one thing,” he told The Telegraph. “I want the medal that’s a bit more yellow than the others.”

Rose, Stenson and Fraser tee off in the final group in tomorrow’s final round at 9.39am local time (1.39PM UK).

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Justin Rose? Henrik Stenson? Who will win Olympic gold?

Will Justin Rose hang on to win Olympic golf gold for Team GB? Will it be Henrik Stenson? Or will somebody else burst from the pack to take the medal? Leave your predictions for tomorrow’s final round in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor