Ireland remain right in the hunt for the team championship after a string of fine performances on day three of the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Glendower Golf Club in South Africa.
Dundalk’s Caolan Raffery fired a three-under-par round of 69 to move into a share of 2nd spot in the individual standings on six under par.
Rafferty fired five birdies in all and just the two dropped shots to overtake The Castle’s Alex Gleeson as Ireland’s leading contender.
Gleeson had a rollercoaster ride today but after mixing five birdies and four bogeys on the round, he now finds himself one shot behind Rafferty in a share of 4th.
Tramore’s Robin Dawson got it under par today too. He carded an incredible seven birdies on his way to a two under par round of 70.
South African James du Preez shot the lights out on day three, however. His round of 64 has catapulted him seven strokes clear of the field in the individual race.
Team Ireland (-14) currently sit four shots behind South Africa (-18) in the team standings but have stolen a march on second place, opening up an eight shot advantage over France. Still, it really is all to play for tomorrow for the boys in green.
Further down the field, James Sugrue returned an even par effort today while Kilkenny’s Mark Power shot two over. Massereene’s Tiarnan McLarnon and Naas’ Jonathan Yates both had days to forget with a pair of 77s. While Barry Anderson looks set to miss the cut by a shot on +15.
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