Clement Charmasson will take a one-stroke lead into the final day of the Challenge de España at Fontanals Golf Club, as he closes in on securing a maiden HotelPlanner Tour title.
The Frenchman signed for a five under par round of 66 on a low-scoring day in Girona to reach 15 under par for the week, one shot clear of Scotsman Euan Walker who occupies solo second on 14 under.
Charmasson, who earned promotion from the Pro Golf Tour in 2024, will now tee it up in the final group on Sunday, in just his fifth start on the HotelPlanner Tour.
“I started pretty well today which helped,” he said. “I kept doing good things, so I had momentum right away and I just kept going.
“I hit it well, but I made crucial putts to keep my round going the right way. I’ve figured out the greens well so that helps. I’ve been able to see the lines and I’ve got the speed right which is big,
“I feel good. I’ll go out there tomorrow and see what I can do.”
Charmasson started the day one shot off the lead but made an early move with birdies at the first and fourth, before back-to-back gains at the sixth and seventh saw him lead for the first time.
The 26-year-old then made birdies at hole ten and 15 on the back nine, and despite carding a bogey on the 17th – only his second dropped shot of the week – he parred the last to remain in front with 18 holes to play.
Charmasson, who has his friends and family supporting him this week, insists his game plan won’t change as he targets a breakthrough win.
“I’ll just be doing the same tomorrow,” he added. “I’ve got my family and friends with me this week which is cool. I have my best friend on the bag too, so we’ll just keep having fun.
“That’s what I chose to do last year, getting my good friend on the bag, and things have been good since then.
“There’s a lot of golf to play. I know it’s usual to say that, but it is true. I’ve had a good start of the week already, so there’s another 18 to go, and anything can happen.”
Swiss Benjamin Rusch fired a six under par round of 65 to climb into a share of third place on 12 under par alongside overnight leader Luis Masaveu, with Finn Kim Koivu’s round of 64 putting him in fifth place alongside Sweden’s Oliver Gillberg on 11 under.
Five players are a further shot back in seventh on ten under par, including Victor Sidal Svendsen and Jeppe Kristian Andersen from Denmark, Spaniard Joseba Torres, Welshman Jack Davidson and Englishman Tom Shadbolt.
The final round of the Challenge de España gets under way at 8:00am local time, with Charmasson teeing off alongside Walker and Rusch at 10:00am.
