Rafa Echenique produced a brilliant approach at the last to preserve his lead at the French Open in Paris.

The Argentinian played out of the rough from 200 yards to within seven feet and grabbed the birdie which gave him a one-shot lead over Martin Kaymer.

Paul Waring birdied four of the last five holes to sit two off the lead. Colin Montgomerie pitched in from 97 yards at the sixth on his way to a 65.

Monty talks up chances

Colin Montgomerie has urged people not to dismiss his chances of figuring prominently in the Open at Turnberry.

The European Ryder Cup skipper matched his lowest round of the year with a 65 at the French Open to sit six shots behind leader Rafa Echenique.

Montgomerie said: "I was eighth there in 1994, and The Open gives me my best opportunity if it's fast-running. This was a very important round for me."

Echenique eyes title

Rafa Echenique is confident he can win his first European Tour title after a birdie at the last preserved his lead at the French Open in Paris.

The 28-year-old Argentinian, one shot in front of Germany's Martin Kaymer on 11 under par, said: "That last birdie was very good because the putter wasn't working for me today.

"I believe I can do it. I did it in the Argentinian Open, so why not here?"

Open de France

Third-round leaderboard
Le Golf National, Paris, par 71
-11	R Echenique	Arg	70
-10	M Kaymer	Ger	69
-9	P Waring	Eng	68
-8	S Benson	Eng	68
-8	R Green	Aus	70
-8	P Hanson	Swe	70
-7	R-J Derksen	Hol	68
-7	L Westwood	Eng	70
-7	C Schwartzel	RSA	72
-6	I Poulter	Eng	66

Open de France

Third-round leaderboard
Le Golf National, Paris, par 71
Selected others
-5	C Montgomerie	Sco	65
-5	J Donaldson	Wal	68
-5	G Storm	Eng	67
-5	S Webster	Eng	74
-3	D Clarke	NI	68
-2	N Dougherty	Eng	69
-1	O Wilson	Eng	71
lev	MA Jimenez	Spa	73
+2	JM Olazabal	Spa	72