Hennie O’Kennedy was nearly not there to card his six-under-par 66 on Saturday in the third round of the Nelson Mandela Bay Championship which took him into a share of third at a windy Humewood Golf Club.

O’Kennedy was thinking of booking an early flight towards the end of his second round, but he managed to pick up two birdies and an eagle in his final four holes to make the cut. And after his third round, he reached 11-under-par for the tournament, just two shots off the lead heading into the final round of the tournament co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and the Challenge Tour.

“It’s never over till it’s over,” laughed O’Kennedy as he thought back on those last four holes, “and today, I made bogey on six, and then things just started happening.”

Those things included an incredible six birdies in a row around the turn from seventh, and another two on 15 and 17. He made a bogey on 18, which dropped him into a five-way share of third with Josh Hilleard of England, American Dan Erickson, and compatriots Brandon Stone and Dylan Mostert.

Up front, 36-hole leader Tom Vaillant of France held on to his position at the top of the leaderboard after his third-round one-over-par 73 saw him finish at 13-under. He led by one from last week’s winner, JJ Senekal, who moved within striking distance of a potential second win in a row with his one-under 71.

“The front nine played ridiculously hard. The first six holes are brutal straight into the wind. You’re hitting driver and seven-iron and driver and five-iron into every hole there. It’s a brutal start to the golf course in this wind. But I’m in a good spot one shot back,” said Senekal.

Behind O’Kennedy and the others in third, there were five players in a share of eighth on 10-under-par.