“Anything can happen”- Nolan determined to keep fighting

Liam Nolan hopes he can go low on Sunday and give himself a chance of a maiden professional victory at the SDC Open.

Nolan carded a third round of 70 after an electrifying start where he birdied his first three holes to share the lead, fizzled out somewhat and he fell back to ten-under and eight shots behind Altin Van Der Merwe.

“It was another good solid round. Got off to a flyer start with three in a row then as the day went on I struggled to hit a few fairways especially with how the course was firming up,” explained the Galway man who dropped shots on the 10th and 16th but did birdie 12.

“I found it very hard to keep the ball on the fairway. I scrambled well for the most part, couple of dropped shots but I haven’t done myself too much damage. Looking to get it going tomorrow early and keep it going.”

Nolan currently sits in a share of 9th place just four shots off 2nd spot and still has plenty to play for on Sunday as he looks to kickstart his career.

“Just trying to stay very present I executed every shot the way I wanted to the first three holes and that’s where the birdies came from and you try to keep doing good things. It slipped a little compared to the start but nothing to be worried about I still played hard and fought hard so all good things.

“I’m looking at it as my first tournament of the year rather than an invite. It’s great to be out here and in contention so early in the year and hopefully I can follow it up with another good round tomorrow and see where it leaves me.”

The 24-year-old doesn’t have a number in mind but knows if he can get off to another quick start he can put pressure on Van Der Merwe and make the South African sweat in the sweltering conditions at Zebula Golf Estate.

“I have no idea. I think out here with the fairways baking up and the greens getting firm that anything can happen. Just going to go out I don’t have a number in mind but if I execute my gameplay as I would like to I can definitely go low.

“It’s amazing to be top-10 going into Sunday in any tournament is a great feeling and just looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and seeing what I can do.”