Dean Shares Spanish Open 54-Hole Lead With Forrest After Saturday Charge in Madrid

Joe Dean will enter Sunday's final round of the Open de España tied for the lead with Grant Forrest at 13 under, after a roller-coaster Saturday at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Dean, the Englishman whose career breakthrough came at the British Masters just six weeks ago, charged to 16 under during the third round before the tournament nearly slipped away. A double bogey at the par-4 16th, his first mistake of the day, was followed by another dropped shot at the 17th. But Dean steadied himself and birdied the par-4 18th for a 65 to get back into a share of the lead.

Forrest, the 36-hole leader, refused to give ground. The Scot played a bogey-free back nine and had a birdie putt at the last to take the outright lead, but it slid by and he settled for par to stay level with Dean.

The chase is tightly bunched one shot back at 12 under. Switzerland's Joel Birrbach birdied the final hole, while France's Victor Perez and Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen join him, Perez having reached the turn in a bogey-free 30 earlier in the day.

Spaniard Angel Ayora, sixth after a 66, carries home hopes, while compatriot Eugenio Chacarra battled on through a fractured toe to sit eight under. Chacarra needs a win to overtake Patrick Reed in the Race to Dubai standings.