GUYANCOURT, France, 29 June 2003 — Winless in 200 European PGA Tour events, England’s Philip Golding put himself in contention to end his losing streak yesterday by sinking a 12-footer at the last for a one-shot lead after the third round of the French Open.

But with five players poised to pounce one stroke back, it promised to be a battle to the last today.

On 11-under were Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, Peter O’Malley of Australia, Pierre Fulke of Sweden and Englishmen David Howell and Barry Lane.

The 40-year-old Golding has the unenviable record of having made a record 16 appearances at the Tour qualifying school, the last time being last year.

But having made the cut in his last five outings, he came to Paris with some form under his belt.

Joint leader after Thursday’s first round, Golding started well in the third round with three birdies in the first eight holes before a bogey six at the ninth set him back.

Three more birdies for one bogey on the back nine brought him in on 68 and nudged him in front of a packed leaderboard.

Joining Golding on what was a good day for the forty-somethings, Lane shot a 67 to give him a shot at winning a first tour title since 1994.

O’Malley had been the early pace-setter firing a birdie-rich 66 to move to 11-under.

The 36-year-old Australian, looking for his first win in Europe since the English Open two years ago, birdied the first three holes and followed with three more at the fifth, eighth and ninth as he went out in just 30.

Huston Fires 63 to Join

Johnson for Halfway Lead

In Memphis, Tennessee, John Huston shot an eight-under-par 63 late in the day to join Sweden’s Richard Johnson in a tie for the second-round lead at the $4.6 million FedEx St. Jude Classic on Friday.

Huston and Johnson (66) stand on 12-under-par 130 at the TPC at Southwinds for a one-shot advantage over David Peoples, who went round in 66.

Three shots off the lead are another Swede Fredrik Jacobson (67) and David Gossett (67) at nine-under-par.

Former winner Jay Haas (70) is tied with Lee Janzen (66) and Kirk Triplett (67) on eight-under 134, one ahead of David Toms (67), Pat Bates (67) and Chris Riley (66).

Huston, 42, who last won in 2000, eagled the par-five third to get into red numbers for the round and went out in four-under 32.

He added birdies at the 11th, 13th, 16th and difficult 18th in testing late afternoon winds. A six-time PGA Tour winner, Huston has developed a reputation over the years for his ability to take his scores low when in contention.