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Emiliano Grillo inches closer to podium place

Emiliano Grillo started Saturday tied for 14th. After shooting a 3-under-par 68, the Argentine who has won once on the PGA Tour moved up 10 spots to be in contention for a medal on Sunday. Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Offsetting three bogeys with six birdies, Argentina's Emiliano Grillo posted his third straight sub-par round Saturday to get to 6 under, putting him in a tie for fourth in the men's Olympic golf competition.

The 23-year-old is 6 shots behind 54-hole leader Justin Rose from Great Britain.

After shooting a 3-under-par 68 on Saturday, Grillo is in position to medal in the sport's return to the Summer Games for the first time since 1904.

After a Jekyll-and-Hyde front nine that saw five birdies, two bogeys and just two pars, Grillo steadied the ship on the back nine with an even-par 36. His 32 on the front nine was his lowest 9-hole split -- by 2 shots -- so far in three rounds this week.

Grillo's shot of the day might have come from his lone birdie on the back nine, where he sank a 38-foot putt on the par-4 12th. For the week, he has played the par-5s at 4 under.

Will the PGA Tour rookie and winner of the Frys.com Open go for broke in the final round?

"No, just go shot by shot and try to birdie every hole," Grillo said. "Out here, it's very hard; some holes, if you make par, you're really happy with it. There's a bunch of holes, like I hit 3-wood as a second shot two or three times today and it's a par-4 ... It's been a lot of grinding and (2-putting) from 60 feet to make par."

Grillo knows exactly where he stands and the chances of earning Argentina's second medal in these Olympic Games.

"Oh, yeah, of course," said Grillo, who will play in the second-to-last pairing on Sunday. "I've been thinking since we knew that golf was going to be in the Olympics. It's been a nice week. It's been an unbelievable experience, and I honestly cannot wait to get it done tomorrow."

Grillo's countryman Fabian Gomez shot 2-over-par 73 and is tied for 14th.