Oliver Bekker made five birdies and two bogeys on Saturday to climb into a share of seventh place after the third round of the DP World Tour’s DS Automobiles Italian Open at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome.
His three-under-par 68 took him to seven-under-par for the tournament, three behind the leader, US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick led by one from Aaron Rai, who had two eagles in his bogey-free six-under-par 65 to move to nine-under, and Rory McIlroy, who battled through three bogeys with three birdies for his level-par 71. Kurt Kitayama, Victor Perez and Lukas Herbert shared fourth on eight-under, one ahead of Bekker and Robert MacIntyre.
Bekker made a bogey on each nine in challenging conditions as the wind switched, and picked up birdies on six and nine, and on 11, 12 and 18.
Next best of the South Africans who made the cut were Darren Fichardt and Louis de Jager, on one-under-par for the tournament after each signed for a one-over 72. They were in a share of 32nd.
Justin Walters was on two-over after a third round of four-over 75 in a share of 62nd and Brandon Stone had a three-over 74 to be on four-over for the tournament in a share of 72nd.
