Scott’s one clear as he aims to knock the spots off rest at Leopard Creek
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson will take a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship after yesterday posting a third-round 68 at Leopard Creek.
The 35-year-old carded an eagle, five birdies, one bogey and a double-bogey in a mixed third round to move to 11-under-par, one shot ahead of closest challenger David Lipsky.
Home favourites Zander Lombard and Brandon Stone were in a tie for third a further two strokes back on eight-under.
Jamieson, who is chasing his second European Tour title, his only win coming at the weathershortened Nelson Mandela Championship almost exactly six years ago, also in South Africa – came into the day one shot behind halfway leader Lipsky but soon set about closing the gap.
He carded two birdies and a single bogey on his front nine to reach the turn in 34, while Lipsky sandwiched one birdie between two bogeys in his first nine holes.
Jamieson found himself in possession of a three-shot lead after following up a brilliant eagle at the par-four 11th with a birdie on the 13th.
But a disappointing doublebogey at the 14th and an eagle from Lipsky on the 15th saw that advantage wiped out completely as both men were locked at 10-under.
There was then a three-shot swing in the Scot’s favour on the short 16th as bunker trouble saw American Lipsky run up a doublebogey, while Jamieson curled in his eight-foot birdie putt to jump to 11-under.
But as Jamieson safely parred his way home, Lipsky closed his round with back-to-back birdies to sign for a 70 and reduce the deficit to one.
Jamieson’s fellow Scots Marc Warren and David Drysdale are in a tie for fifth on seven-under-par after firing respective rounds of 72 and 71.
Lefty Robert McIntyre is four shots further back on three-under, while South African-based Scot Doug McGuigan is on two-under. Aberdeen’s David Law completes the Scots to make the cut, and lies on one-over-par for the tournament.
leaderboard
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72) 205 – Scott Jamieson 71 66 68;
206 – David Lipsky (USA) 70 66 70;
208 – Brandon Stone (Rsa) 69 70 69,
Zander Lombard (Rsa) 71 69 68; 209 – David Drysdale 69 69 71, Marc Warren 70 67 72, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 69 73 67, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 68 75 66;
210 – Niklas Lemke (Swe) 72 68 70, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa) 75 69 66, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 71 69 70; 211 – Ben Evans 70 70 71, Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 71 71 69, Oliver Wilson 70 69 72, Dylan Frittelli (Rsa) 69 70 72, Sean Crocker (USA) 72 68 71, Romain Langasque (Fra) 74 68 69, Kim Koivu (Fin) 75 65 71;
212 – Adri Arnaus (Spa) 70 73 69, Max Orrin 71 74 67, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 69 70 73, Erik Van Rooyen (Rsa) 70 70 72, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 70 72 70; 213 – Kalle Samooja (Fin) 74 68 71, Ernie Els (Rsa) 73 67 73, Robert Macintyre 70 71 72, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 75 67 71, Justin Walters (Rsa) 74 71 68;
214 – Matthew Jordan 71 72 71, Neil Schietekat (Rsa) 72 72 70, JC Ritchie (Rsa) 78 68 68, Espen Kofstad (Nor) 69 72 73, Doug McGuigan 72 66 76, David Borda (Spa) 72 74 68, George Coetzee (Rsa) 73 70 71, Joachim B. Hansen (Den) 73 70 71, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 72 73, Oliver Bekker (Rsa) 66 73 75, Jeff Winther (Den) 72 69 73, Victor Perez (Fra) 73 68 73.
Defending champion Justin Rose dropped to seven shots behind leader Poom Saksansin ahead of the final round of the Indonesian Masters.
The world No. 2, who resumed six strokes behind the Thai player, carded three birdies and two bogeys during a third-round 71 to leave him tied for fourth place on nine-under.
Overnight leader Saksansin maintained a three-shot lead over his nearest challenger as three birdies helped him to a third-round score of 70 which puts him on 16-under.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson climbed to second place in Jakarta after posting the best score of the round. Five birdies from the 2016 Open Championship winner saw him finish on 68, 13 shots below par.
Jazz Janewattananond is third on 10 under after a third-round 69, with fellow Thai players Jakraphan Premsirigorn and Panuphol Pittayarat level with Briton Rose a shot further back.
Leader Poom, who shocked Stenson by beating him at the Eur-Asia Cup in Malaysia at the start of the year, was looking forward to another battle with the Swede.
He said: “I know this golf course pretty well. That will give me the advantage tomorrow.”
Stenson added: “I know he is a very capable player. He has shown that for the first three days here.”