Argentina’s Ariel Canete tops the third-round leader board at the Jo’burg Open, co-sanctioned by the European and Sunshine Tours, where play was suspended just after 2pm on Saturday and called off at 5.45pm due to lightning.
The 31-year-old Canete birdied the ninth hole, his third of the day, to go to 12-under minutes before the hooters sounded to suspend play, tipping South Africa’s Andrew McLardy into second at 11-under alongside the joint second leader, countryman Hennie Otto.
A charging Eduardo Molinari of Italy is alone at fourth on 10th under.
The 31-year-old Canete paid tribute to a hot putter that put him in charge at the demanding East course, which is being used for the last two rounds.
”The start is not the easiest part of this course, and the first three or four holes are very important. But my putter was working very well and I was a bit more relaxed towards the end and played better. I am pleased to be in a better position than when I started,” Canete said.
Three off the pace at the start of the round, Canete got off to a solid start with five consecutive pars before charging to the top with birdies at the sixth and seventh. A solid drive set up a birdie at the ninth, catapulting the diminutive Argentinean to the top.
McLardy (32) was three off the pace at the start of play and parred his first five holes, but completed the outward loop in three-under after with a spirited run of three birdies from the sixth to the eighth.
McLardy, who comes from strong Scottish stock, led the first round after blitzing the West course on Thursday with a course-record 63. But he dropped from contention after a 72 at the East on Friday, failing to score a single birdie against three bogeys and a double drop.
Otto, who also lives in Johannesburg, is the only one of the three overnight leaders to maintain a position near the top of the leader board, with countrymen James Kingston four-over through eight holes on Saturday and Jakobus Roos five-over-par.
”I’ve played here so often so I know being even-par through eight holes is not bad on this East course. Today was just about protecting your score, but maybe I can do something on the back nine when we resume the round,” Otto said.
South African Charl Schwartzel, the highest-ranked player in the field, had moved into contention on eight-under-par with six birdies and four bogeys through 17 holes.
The third round was to resume at 6.45am on Sunday, while the final round would tee off at 6.45am and be played concurrently with the third, using the same pairings and tee-off times as applied for the third round. — Sapa