McDowell, Sterne slog to lead at Open de France

PARIS, July 6 (UPI) -- Graeme McDowell and Richard Sterne shared the lead at 5-under par 208 after Saturday's third round of the European Tour's French Open.

McDowell battled to a 1-under 70 in Saturday's round and Sterne completed the circuit at Le Golf National at even-par, but it was enough to claim a 1-stroke lead over the trio of Bernd Wiesberger, David Howell and Richard Green.

McDowell, who won the Volvo Match Play Championship this year, said Le Golf National was a formidable venue.

"This course demands fairways and greens; most courses do but this one even more so," he said. "Shots off line here get punished heavily and the greens are very firm."

McDowell had a quiet round, with two birdies and a bogey on the 17th hole. Sterne had two bogeys and a double-bogey, but birdied 14 and 17 to move to the head of the pack with McDowell.