South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout carded a bogey-free seven-under par 64 in the third round of the Paris Olympic Games golf competition on Saturday to give him a slim chance of a medal.

Bezuidenhout and Team SA teammate Erik van Rooyen are on eight-under par going into Sunday’s final round. Van Rooyen shot a two-under par 69 in the third round after recovering from a bogey on the first hole and a double drop on the par-four seventh hole at Le Golf National.

Bezuidenhout and Van Rooyen are six shots adrift of the leaders reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele and Spanish superstar Jon Rahm, who are tied on 14-under par.

The South African duo need to shoot lights on out on Sunday and hope that the leaders falter to get somewhere near a medal on the congested leaderboard.

American Schauffele, the world’s form player after winning his maiden major titles at the PGA Championship and the Open this year, carded a three-under-par 68 in his third round.

He struggled to find his best during a level-par front nine as Rahm surged into the lead, but eagled the par-five 14th hole at the same time as Rahm was making a three-putt bogey on the next green.

Schauffele will likely have to endure another dramatic final day if he is to win gold again, having edged to victory in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago by a single stroke.

Rahm started the day two shots off the pace but moved up the leaderboard with an excellent 66 to draw alongside Schauffele on 14-under for the tournament.

The two-time major champion made seven birdies, including a long putt on the penultimate hole to bounce back after his disappointment on the 15th.

Tommy Fleetwood is just one shot behind the leading duo in third place on 13-under after a 69 which featured three birdies and one bogey.

The popular Briton, who has never won a major title despite several near-misses, was not on top form but did enough to ensure he has a strong chance of clinching gold.

Hideki Matsuyama, tied for the overnight lead with Schauffele and Fleetwood, battled hard for a level-par 71 to remain on 11-under.

The Japanese is tied with Nicolai Hojgaard after the Dane powered through the field with a spectacular nine-under 62 to equal the course record.

The 23-year-old now jointly holds the record with three other players, including his twin brother Rasmus.