Golf: Tom Kim slips to sixth as An Byeong-hun climbs the standings

Tom Kim dropped one spot down to sixth in the third round of the Paris Olympic men’s golf tournament on Saturday after carding a two-under-par, 69, for a total score at 10-under, 203 at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France

Tom Kim of Korea lines up his putt on the sixth green during the third round of the men's golf event at the Paris Olympics at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Tom Kim dropped one spot down to sixth in the third round of the Paris Olympic men’s golf tournament on Saturday after carding a two-under-par, 69, for a total score at 10-under, 203 at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France.

Jon Ram of Spain and Xander Schauffele of the United States share the No. 1 position with a 14-under, 199, as of Saturday.

An Byeong-hun, meanwhile, jumped 13 spots up to a joint 17th place after managing a five-under, 66.

For Korean players, standing on the podium will come with a coveted exemption from an 18-month mandatory military service exemption. Korean male athletes can earn exemption by winning a bronze medal or higher at the Olympics.

Golf at the Paris Olympics is played in a regular stroke play format over four rounds, but without a cut after the second round. The men’s tournament will end on Sunday, with the women’s tournament — where Korea is represented by Ko Jin-young, Kim Hyo-joo and Yang Hee-young — tees off on Aug. 7.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]