A third round of four-under-par 67 on Saturday saw Daniel van Tonder into contention in the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club as he moved into third place, three shots off the lead.
Van Tonder, the reigning South African Open champion who will be defending his title next week, made five birdies and dropped just a single shot on the par-four 12th. That put him on 14-under through 54 holes, with the man who has led from the start, Dan Bradbury of England in front on 17-under. Bradbury was one ahead of Finland’s Sami Valimaki, who made double-bogey on the last to relinquish the lead.
Two shots behind Van Tonder, pre-tournament favourite Christiaan Bezuidenhout made two late bogeys in his final four holes on his way to a two-under-par 69. At 12-under, he’s going to have to be at his best – as he was through 10 holes in the third round – if he is to chase down the title in the final round.
With Bezuidenhout on 12-under was young Casey Jarvis, who raced out to 16-under for the tournament after his brilliant third-round of eight-under 63. He made two birdies and an eagle in the first three holes of the third round, but two bogeys and a double before the turn as he seemed to be pushing just a little too hard slowed his progress. He turned at level-par, but his two birdies on the homeward nine were countered by a double-bogey on the 15th. Still, he will be aware that a purple patch like he had in the second round, and at the start of the third, will put him right back in the mix.
Other South Africans within shouting distance of the lead include Louis de Jager on 11-under after a third-round one-under 70, and Oliver Bekker on 10-under after he had a six-under 65 to move into eighth place on 10-under.
