Garrick Higgo was the leading South African after a tough day at the office for the two remaining locals in the field in the third round of the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.
Higgo was relatively unscathed with his level-par 70, but that left him at four-under-par for the tournament, a yawning nine strokes behind the leader. Rory McIlroy held on to his slim one-stroke lead at the top of the leaderboard with a third-round three-under 67 taking him to 13-under. He led by one from young Korean Tom Kim, who, in turn, was one clear of Tommy Fleetwood and American left-hander Brian Harman on 11-under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler was lurking on 10-under in a share of fifth, as was first-round leader Byeong Hun An of Korean and former Open champion Shane Lowry of Ireland.
South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen was unable to repeat his second-round heroics when he had a seven-under 63. He was 10 strokes worse off in the third round, with his three-over 73 dropping him to a share of 69th amongst the 77 players who made the cut.
