South African Harding ready to go head-to-head with Kurt in Mauritius
Justin Harding joined Kurt Kitayama at the top of the leaderboard yesterday after an excellent third-round 64 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
The South African started the day six shots off halfway leader Kitayama but reeled him in with eight birdies in his bogey-free round.
Qualifying School graduate Kitayama of the United States had soared into the halfway lead after back-to-back rounds of 65, and he carded three birdies and a single bogey in a third-round 70 to stay on top.
A delighted Harding said: “I never really like to think about things as I walk down the holes, but I really felt like I played pretty well today.
“I had good control, especially in the first 10-13 holes. I kind of felt like I could birdie every hole out there.
“It’s a tough day, though, because at this golf course, if you miss it in the wrong spot you’re going to get hurt.
“I thought there were some good pins out there, especially on the back nine. Ones where if you’re on the wrong side of the holes, you had no chance.
“So, I kind of managed my game well. Hit it to 20 feet where I could and see if I could make a putt.
“I enjoy being up there. It’s good. I have a pretty good attitude in terms of holding leads. I kind of like the guys coming at me rather than having to chase. I sometimes get in my own way when I’m chasing.
“So, I’m looking forward to it. It’s nice, I’m quite happy. It’s a job well done.”
However, Kitayama did not find things as positive.
He said: “Today played a little tougher. Being in the last group added a little more pressure. I made two birdies in the first four holes and I ground it out.
“It was windy in the first two rounds and it was tricky in that way. I was trying to adjust to that. I just didn’t hit the ball as well as I did on the first two days.
“There are still guys who are just a few shots back. With things playing out the way they did today, there will be plenty of scoring opportunities and it will be a shoot-out.
“I’m not sure if being in the lead will affect me. Let’s see how I’m feeling in the morning, how the wind is and see if I can hit as many drivers as I did the first two days. Then, I will make adjustments along the way.”
India’s S Chikkarangappa, Frenchman Matthieu Pavon and Masahiro Kawamura of Japan – who also secured his 2019 European Tour card through Qualifying School – are three shots behind the co-leaders on 13-under-par.
Victor Perez, of France, is in sixth place at 12-under-par, with Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan one shot further back.
South African Oliver Bekker, Germany’s Max Schmitt, Clément Sordet, of France, and Scotland’s Grant Forrest are all on 10-under-par.
Forrest, the 25-year-old former University of San Diego student, fired a seven-under 65 to bring himself right back in the shake-up ahead of today’s final round.
leaderboard
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72): 200 – Kurt Kitayama (USA) 65 65 70,
Justin Harding (Rsa) 67 69 64;
203 – Matthieu Pavon (Fra) 67 66 70, S Chikkarangappa (Ind) 64 68 71, Masahiro Kawamura (Jpn) 65 71 67;
204 – Victor Perez (Fra) 64 69 71;
205 – Gavin Moynihan 69 65 71;
206 – Oliver Bekker (Rsa) 67 69 70, Max Schmitt (Ger) 71 66 69, Clement Sordet (Fra) 71 67 68, Grant Forrest 70 71 65;
207 – Dylan Frittelli (Rsa) 69 70 68, Ajeetesh Sandhu (Ind) 69 70 68, Romain Langasque (Fra) 70 72 65, Lee Slattery 67 69 71;
208 – Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 73 67 68,
Jbe Kruger (Rsa) 70 67 71, Antoine Rozner (Fra) 70 68 70, Trevor Fisher Jnr (Rsa) 69 66 73, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 70 67 71;
209 – Alex Haindl (Rsa) 67 72 70, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 70 71 68, Yi-Keun Chang (Kor) 71 68 70, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa) 70 68 71, Yan-wei Liu (Chn) 71 67 71, Jack Harrison 71 70 68;
210 – Ernie Els (Rsa) 69 70 71, Keith Horne (Rsa) 68 71 71, Berry Henson (USA) 69 71 70, Matthias Schwab (Aut) 67 71 72, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 71 67 72.
Home hero Cameron Smith took a three-shot lead into the final round of the Australian PGA Championship following an errorfree round on day three at Royal Pines.
The overnight leader maintained his fine form from the previous day, when he recorded the lowest round of the week with a 65, by shooting a 67 yesterday to move to 14-underpar and extend his advantage at the top of the leaderboard.
Smith spread five birdies across a flawless round of golf, while Marc Leishman (69) did his best to keep up and finished three shots back in second place.