Daniel van Tonder will take a two-shot lead into the final round as he bids to secure a wire-to-wire victory at the RAM Cape Town Open.
The South African, who recorded a top ten finish at last week’s Limpopo Championship, is in pole position to clinch his maiden European Challenge Tour title after recording a round of 69, three under par, to stay in front on home soil.
Van Tonder started day three with a one-shot advantage after opening rounds of 66-67 and was able to extend his lead at Royal Cape Golf Club, mixing three bogeys with six birdies to head into the final day on 14 under par.
“It was tough out there,” he said. “I made a few mistakes, but my wife held me together and we managed to pull through.
“I had a few nervous moments, but I’ve been accurate all week with my irons, so I’ve been able to stay on track. I can read these greens well so that always helps and my putting was able to save me out there a few times today.
“Tomorrow is just a different day, same 18 holes, so you’ve just got to do the best you can with it. If I was able to go out and do it tomorrow it would be my fourth win on the Sunshine Tour and it would get me back to the top of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, so there’s plenty to play for."
Luke Jerling matched the low round of the week, an eight under par round of 64, to charge up the leaderboard into second position on 12 under par as he goes in search of his first professional victory.
Meanwhile, Swede Anton Karlsson also propelled himself into contention with a bogey-free eight under par round of 64 to sit one shot further back.
JC Ritchie remains in the hunt to become the first player since Antoine Rozner in May 2019 to win back-to-back Challenge Tour titles despite a mixed two under par round of 70, which leaves him four shots behind.
The South African clinched his first Challenge Tour victory at the Limpopo Championship last week after coming from two shots behind on the final day to defend his title and would amass his third consecutive Sunshine Tour victory if he was to charge up the leaderboard at Royal Cape Golf Club.
The final round gets under way at 6:38am local time, with Van Tonder and Jerling beginning day four at 12:00pm.
