Four South Africans topped the leaderboard after the third round of the South African Airways Open golf championship at the Durban Country Club on Saturday.
Tim Clark, Titch Moore, Hendrik Buhrmann and Tjaart van der Walt will all go into Sunday’s final round on nine-under 207’s. One shot behind them is England’s Graeme Storm on eight under with his compatriots David Howell and Neil Cheetham, together with France’s Gregory Havret and SA veteran Bobby Lincoln all on six under.
Clark, with a four-under-par 68, had the best round of the leaders with Buhrmann and Van der Walt both shooting 70’s on the day while Moore had a level-par 72.
But it was Clark, winner on this very course in 2002, who was most positive ahead of the final round. ”Last time I was in this position and I shot seven under so I’m certainly going to be very confident tomorrow.
”All you have to do on this course is get on the fairway and the guy who does that tomorrow is probably going to win.” Clark had a solid round with four birdies and no dropped shots, but it could have been so much better if his putter had just been a little more obliging.
He looked to be on a roll with three successive birdies on the front nine – holes five, six and seven – but then had to wait until the short par-four 18th to earn another red marking on the scorecard.
”My only regret today is that I was unable to birdie any of the par-fives and I don’t think they will play any easier than they did today,” said Clark.
”On the other hand I did sink some good putts on the front nine for the three birdies and I also made some good up-and-downs today.” Clark hit a great drive at the 420m par-four fifth and just needed a sand wedge to get his second shot to within 20ft for his first birdie. On each of the next two holes the 29-year-old from Umkomaas managed to sink a 30-footer for his birdie.
At 18, Clark hit his drive to the edge of the green and his attempt for an eagle just skimmed past the edge of the hole but it did leave him a relatively simple birdie putt.
By way of contrast, Van der Walt got into the leading group courtesy of an eagle at the final hole after his drive off the tee landed within eight feet of the pin. His round though was as fluctuating as the Valley of a Thousand Hills with nine pars, four birdies, four bogeys and the eagle at the last.
”I haven’t played in a while and I haven’t really practised so for me to be out here and be in contention at a relatively big event is satisfactory.
”Hopefully I can continue tomorrow,” said Van der Walt.
Buhrmann had the lead to himself after 13 holes with three birdies – on two, three and 13. But he fell back with a bogey on 16 after his drive went into the left rough and he was forced to lay up. ”I thought I played nicely but the main problem was that the field were playing so slow towards the end.
”I have tried to speed up my play but when it comes to a situation like today, I wish I was playing at the speed of an old fart. I’m not experienced enough to speed up and slow down and play hot and cold,” said the 41-year-old.
Moore stated at the start of his round that he just needs to put four good rounds together to win a tournament of this nature. So far he has been able to do just that and he has been in the lead or a share of the lead from the first round.
His round comprised three birdies on holes three, 12 – where he chipped in from off the green – and 14, countered by bogeys on seven, 11 and 16.
Defending champion Trevor Immelman is now just five shots off the pace after shooting a three-under 69 while Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who just made the cut after scoring an eagle on the last hole on Friday, fired a five-under 67 and now lies six shots off the leading quartet. – Sapa