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Joe Dean Surges Into Final Round At Open De Espana

Joe Dean made a dramatic late surge into contention at the Open de Espana after carding a stunning 65 in the third round, tying for the lead at 13-under par alongside Grant Forrest. The English golfer’s round included a late birdie to secure his spot in the final group, though a double bogey at the 16th and a bogey at the 17th threatened to derail his momentum.

Dean’s performance vaulted him from midfield into a tie for first, setting the stage for a tense final round at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, where every stroke will be critical with only a single shot separating the leaders from the chasing pack of Joel Girrbach, Jacob Skov Olesen, and Victor Perez, all sitting at 12-under par.

Forrest, who has maintained consistency throughout the tournament, shares the lead with Dean after reaching 13-under par without the costly errors that have plagued others. The depth of the field remains impressive, with Angel Ayora in sixth at 10-under par, while Martin Couvra and Joakim Lagergren trail at 9-under and 8-under, respectively.

Meanwhile, high-profile absences like Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, and Bubba Watson—who all missed the cut—have shifted focus to home favorites Sergio Garcia and Jose Luis Ballester, who are now poised to contend in the final round. Reed’s exit from the Race to Dubai adds further intrigue, as his season-long points battle now hangs in the balance.

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