Rowan Lester will go into the final round of the Sunshine Tour’s FCB ZIM Open at Royal Harare Golf Club in a tie for 14th place and one shot outside the top 10 as he looks to mark his season debut in style.
Rounds of 69 and 72 saw him just outside the top 20 after 36 holes, and he made a push up the leaderboard on moving day thanks to a four-under 68.
An unspectacular start saw him par the opening six holes – including two par-5s – but a regulation birdie on seven got the ball rolling and he drove the green on the short par-4 eighth and two-putted for back-to-back red circles on the card.
Two further birdies came on 11 and 12, and though he dropped a shot on 15, got it back again on 16 before closing out with two pars for a 68 that moved him to -7 overall.
The day’s biggest mover was Altin van der Merwe who signed for an impressive eight-under-par 64 and the tournament lead as he targets another opportunity at a maiden Sunshine Tour title.
Van Der Merwe heads the field on 17-under-par heading into Sunday’s final round, with Kyle Barker (66) and Austin Bautista (67) his nearest challengers on 13-under.
Tomas Gana, who led for the first two rounds, dropped to -10. Kieran Vincent leads the local challenge on nine-under following his 65, and with a strong contingent of five Zimbabwean professionals having made the cut.
The South African duo of Van der Merwe and Barker battled for the lead on Saturday, with eagles and birdies the order of the day. Barker made the initial charge, starting with two birdies and two eagles within the first six holes. But three bogeys slowed his momentum. Australia’s Bautista, who finished second in this event last year, made his surge to join Barker in second place.
But Van Der Merwe kept his composure and with a round of five birdies, two eagles and one bogey he claimed the lead.
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