Thrilling final day in prospect as Southgate and Perez share lead

ST ANDREWS, September 28, 2019 – Thrilling final day in prospect as Southgate and Perez share lead.

England’s Matthew Southgate and France’s Victor Perez share a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Victory for either would easily be their biggest golfing success.

For Southgate to be in this position marks a personal milestone having fought back from cancer in 2015, while Perez could become the most unlikely local hero ever if he wins.

Born in the Hautes-Pyrenees in France, he has spent the last 18 months as a resident of Dundee, 25 minutes up the road, where he lives with his girlfriend who is at dental school.

Perez shot 64 at Kingsbarns while Southgate had a 65 on the Old Course to reach 20-under-par, two shots ahead of England’s Paul Waring who had a 65 at Carnoustie.

Many of the enthusiastic Scottish golf fans will be opting to follow Tony Finau, who finished third in the Open Championship and fifth in The Masters. After shooting a 66 on the Old Course, he is on 17-under-par and has a chance to become the first American winner.

He said: “It’s really special. It’s very cool to be at the Home of Golf and the Old Course. There’s nothing like it, so to be able to have a chance to win a golf tournament here is going to be something special.

“I was happy with the way I played. I missed a short one on 17, but outside of that I played nicely. You’ve got to keep it out of the bunkers here. I think not being in a pot bunker today was a huge bonus for me.”