Barend Botha overcame three bogeys on his front nine on Tuesday to set himself up for a final-round charge at the title in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at the Abaco Club on Winding Bay.

Botha, who opened with a five-under-par 67 on Sunday, and followed it with a two-under 70 in the second round, moved to nine-under-par for the tournament and a share of second place. He and Will Gordon were two shots off the lead which was held by American Ian Holt at 11-under after his third round of four-under-par 68.

The 24-year-old South African opened his third round with a birdie on the first hole, but dropped shots on the fifth and the sixth. He birdied the eight, but dropped another on the ninth ahead of the turn.

It was a string of pars after the turn, but he finished with a flourish with three birdies in the final four holes, on the 15th, 16th and 18th.

Botha, who finished in a share of 22nd at the season-opening Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island after a 28th-place finish on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List as a rookie, stands inside the top two through 54 holes for the second time in his last three Korn Ferry Tour start. His first was at 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Championship, where he finished second.

In his second season on the tour, he is projected to rise to fourth on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Points List if he stays in his current position.