MADRID — Marco Penge made eight birdies on Saturday and had a chance to win the Spanish Open, while local favorite Jon Rahm’s hopes of winning a record fourth title all but ended.
Penge shot a 7-under 64 in the third round for a tournament total of 16 under. The leader of the day started with a bogey on three holes, but he continued to chase after that, finishing under par on eight of the 10 holes and separating himself from the pack.
“Whatever the result is, it’s going to be a great experience, a great memory for me,” Penge said. “Tomorrow doesn’t define anything. It’s just another day, an 18-hole round of golf.”
His playing partner Joel Gerbach (Switzerland) is the closest challenger with a four-shot difference. Daniel Brown and Patrick Reed will be in the back five, followed by Tom McKibbin in the back six.
Rahm will need a big comeback after posting a 71 on Sunday that included a double bogey. He is tied for 28th place with a 12-stroke difference. The Ryder Cup winner is looking to overtake Seve Ballesteros as the most successful golfer on the tournament since the European Tour was created in 1972.
Penge, 27, got stuck behind a tree on the second hole and broke his wedge.
“I knew it was going to break,” he said. “I picked a club that I didn’t think I would need for the rest of the way. I just tried not to hit my hand on a tree.”
Penji started the day with a one-stroke lead. This year, he also won the Denmark Golf Championship and the Hainan Classic, and will aim for his third tour victory.
