A few days ago Jaco Prinsloo was so ill he was considering withdrawing from the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB. He’s happy he didn’t as he now takes a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round at the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate.
Prinsloo signed for a third round of 66 including a strong finish of two birdies to lead the field on 18 under par in this final tournament on the Courier Guy Playoffs series.
Altin van der Merwe produced a bogey-free 65 to finish the day as his nearest challenger on 16 under par. Martin Vorster, who led for two days, is currently third on 15 under par following a 71.
“I’m surprised. I had a rough start and thought about withdrawing, but luckily I managed to play. I’m very pleased to be here and finally feeling okay now,” Prinsloo said.
“I played solid for the most part and had one bad swing on the par-three 12th and took a double bogey there. But I’m feeling pretty relaxed and didn’t let it phase me too much. I kept going and finished with four birdies.”
It’s been a solid season for Prinsloo, who arrived at this final tournament with six top-10s on the Sunshine Tour. That includes tied fifth in the Serengeti Playoffs before this week.
“I was in Europe and lost my card on the Sunshine Tour, so for me to be here and in the top 20 on the Courier Guy Order of Merit – I’ve felt like I’ve done well. A win would be the cherry on top. But even so, I felt like I’ve done well and I’m just happy to be here. In the final round my focus will be just to make birdies and enjoy myself.”
Daniel van Tonder produced the round of the day – and eight-under 64 that took him to eight under for the tournament as well.
SCORES
198 - Jaco Prinsloo 64 68 66
200 - Altin van der Merwe 67 68 65
201 - Martin Vorster 63 67 71
202 - Graham van der Merwe 68 67 67
202 - Benjamin Follett-Smith 68 63 71
204 - Austin Bautista 65 71 68
204 - Luke Brown 68 68 68
206 - Ryan Van Velzen 70 68 68
206 - Zander Lombard 65 68 73
207 - Jason Roets 71 68 68
208 - Daniel van Tonder 71 73 64
208 - Samuel Simpson 68 73 67, Tyran Snyders 70 71 67, Bryce Easton 71 69 68, Lyle Rowe 67 72 69, Nikhil Rama 68 70 70, MJ Viljoen 70 68 70
209 - Malcolm Mitchell 69 75 65
209 - Haydn Porteous 72 71 66, Allen John 71 71 67, Deon Germishuys 68 72 69, JC Ritchie 70 70 69, Brandon Stone 70 69 70
210 - Christiaan Burke 72 73 65
210 - Pierre Viallaneix 75 67 68, Louis Albertse 72 67 71
211 - Herman Loubser 70 70 71
211 - Trevor Fisher Jnr 70 69 72, Luis Carrera 65 72 74
212 - Hennie Otto 69 69 74
215 - Warwick Purchase 69 74 72
215 - Kyle De Beer 69 73 73, Keenan Davidse 71 69 75
217 - Gerhard Pepler 72 76 69
218 - Stuart Krog 72 72 74
218 - Kyle Barker 73 69 76
219 - Pieter Moolman 71 75 73
221 - Estiaan Conradie 75 74 72
Missed the cut:-
RTD - Luke Jerling 74 RTD