Wilco Nienaber carded a three-under-par 69 on Saturday to edge towards the top 10 after the third round of the Challenge Tour’s Irish Challenge at the K Club in Palmer South, Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland.

The lanky South African made four birdies on the front nine before dropping a shot on the ninth, and then had a birdie and a bogey on the back nine to move to six-under for the tournament and a share of 11^th. He was seven strokes off the lead which was held by Brandon Robinson Thompson of England on 13-under after his third round of four-under 68. The Englishman was one clear of Swede Joakim Lagergren.

Nienaber shared 11^th with eight other players, including compatriot Dylan Naidoo, who had a third round of level-par 72 which included a double-bogey and two bogeys to go with his four birdies.

Bryce Easton had a one-over 73 in the third round and slipped to a share of 22^nd on four-under.