Joe Dean and Grant Forrest Share Lead at Open de España After Third Round

Joe Dean carded a 6-under 65 on October 10, 2026, to share the lead at 13-under 200 with Grant Forrest heading into the final round of the Open de España presented by Madrid, according to the Associated Press. Dean overcame a late double-bogey and bogey stretch on the back nine at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid by sinking a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, reaching the 54-hole summit alongside Forrest, who shot a 67.

Dean and Forrest Share the Lead in Madrid

Dean built his position with eight birdies over his first 15 holes before running into trouble on the course’s closing stretch. The Associated Press reported that the English golfer went bunker-to-bunker on the par-4 16th, chipped past the green, and missed a 15-foot putt for a double bogey, before hitting his tee shot long on the par-3 17th for a bogey.

It gave a little bit of hope after those previous two holes, but nothing’s guaranteed in this game and it only takes a slight lapse in concentration or a bad shot and before you know it you’re chasing. It’s nice to finish with a birdie on the last. We’ll go again and see what happens.

Joe Dean

Grant Forrest matched Dean’s 13-under total by firing a third-round 67. The Scottish player sits tied at the top of the leaderboard one stroke clear of Victor Perez, Joel Girrbach, and Jacob Skov Olesen.

Chacarra Struggles Through Injury as Contenders Lurk

Eugenio Chacarra played the third round with a foot injury after fracturing a toe in the middle of the night, according to the Associated Press and Irish Golfer Magazine. Chacarra carded a 70 to sit five shots behind the leaders, remaining in contention to overtake American Patrick Reed for the lead in the Race to Dubai after Reed missed the 36-hole cut on October 9, 2026.

DP World Tour stars Ludvig Åberg and Shane Lowry both fired 4-under 67s during the third round to reach 5-under overall, putting themselves in a tie for 17th place. The Irish Times reported that Lowry entered the week following his victory at the Amgen Irish Open at Doonbeg, aiming to secure vital points toward qualification for the European Ryder Cup team at Adare Manor.

Final Round Showdown on Sunday

The tournament concludes on October 11, 2026, at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. A victory for Joe Dean would move him into the top 10 in the Race to Dubai standings and secure his PGA Tour card for 2027.