Higgins six behind in Africa

Three-time European Tour champion Darren Fichardt. Picture by Getty ImagesDavid Higgins is six shots behind South African duo Darren Fichardt and Jaco Van Zyl entering the final round of the Africa Open.

On a day of low scoring at East London Golf Club in the Eastern Cape, the Waterville man had four birdies in a a three under 69 to end the day in a tie for ninth place on nine under par.

Fichardt and Van Zyl took advantage of a slip-up by the overnight leader Adilson da Silva to move to the head of affairs on 15 under.

The previous three editions of the Africa Open have been won by Charl Schwartzel (2010) and his fellow Major Champion Louis Oosthuizen (2011 and 2012), and the home nation’s dominance of the event seems set to continue after Fichardt and Van Zyl opened up a two-shot lead over the field.

Fichardt, who captured his third European Tour title in St Omer last year, notched seven birdies and an eagle three at the third hole en route to signing for a round of 65 which moved him firmly into contention to win his second Tour title.

“It should be a great day, because Jaco and I are great friends,” said Fichardt. “We played just about every practice round together last season in Europe, so we know each other well. I’m really looking forward to it.

“The putter was nice and hot today. That putt on three was an absolute beauty – about 20-feet for eagle. And on 13, I sunk a nice 40-footer for birdie, so the game is definitely all there now.”

Van Zyl is yet to make his European Tour breakthrough, but after a series of near misses is confident of notching his first victory.

The ten-time Sunshine Tour champion dropped just one shot, at the 14th hole, in his six birdie round of 68.

“I’m very happy with the day,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of stretches this week where I’ve birdied three or four in a row, and it’s good to have the swing back. I made a few putts coming in to catch Darren up, and it should be a great match up on Sunday.”

Da Silva lost his place at the top of the leaderboard after a one over par round of 73 saw him slip back to 13 under, one shot ahead of France’s Grégory Bourdy, who shot a round of 67.

After a superb round of 64, Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo occupies fifth place on 11 under par.

Africa Open after 54 holes

201 D Fichardt (RSA) 69 67 65, J Van Zyl (RSA) 66 67 68,

203 A Da Silva (Bra) 62 68 73,

204 G Bourdy (Fra) 70 67 67,

205 E Grillo (Arg) 70 71 64,

206 M Tullo (Chi) 69 69 68, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 70 68 68, J Campillo (Esp) 73 70 63,

207 D Botes (RSA) 74 67 66, R Santos (Por) 71 66 70, DAVID HIGGINS (Irl) 70 68 69, M Madsen (Den) 71 69 67, J Parry (Eng) 68 66 73,

208 G Mulroy (RSA) 72 67 69, O Bekker (RSA) 69 67 72, L Gagli (Ita) 73 69 66,

209 J Kingston (RSA) 69 71 69, P Price (Wal) 69 74 66, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 73 66, A Sullivan (Eng) 70 70 69, B Rumford (Aus) 71 70 68,

210 M Kieffer (Ger) 71 72 67, K Horne (RSA) 76 68 66, N Fasth (Swe) 72 71 67, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 72 69 69, T Fleetwood (Eng) 69 72 69, L Slattery (Eng) 74 68 68, C Coetzee (RSA) 73 70 67, S Benson (Eng) 71 71 68, T Aiken (RSA) 74 70 66,

211 B Åkesson (Swe) 70 70 71, A Curlewis (RSA) 69 73 69, J Moore (USA) 76 67 68, I Garrido (Esp) 69 72 70, U Van Den Berg (RSA) 71 68 72, T Mordt (RSA) 71 69 71, E Pepperell (Eng) 77 67 67, A Levy (Fra) 73 66 72, M Nixon (Eng) 77 67 67,

212 L Rowe (RSA) 74 67 71, M Baldwin (Eng) 74 70 68, C Paisley (Eng) 73 70 69, D Van Tonder (RSA) 73 71 68, R Derksen (Ned) 72 72 68, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 73 69, C Doak (Sco) 74 67 71, J Walters (RSA) 72 71 69, D Drysdale (Sco) 74 67 71, A Kaleka (Fra) 72 67 73,

213 W Abery (RSA) 73 71 69, M Bremner (RSA) 72 71 70, R McGowan (Eng) 73 69 71, L De Jager (RSA) 72 71 70, D McGuigan (RSA) 78 66 69, D Ferreira (RSA) 69 70 74, J Morrison (Eng) 72 72 69, L Jensen (Den) 72 69 72, T Moore (RSA) 74 70 69,

214 P Erofejeff (Fin) 73 68 73, M Delpodio (Ita) 72 68 74, A Marshall (Eng) 75 66 73, J Luiten (Ned) 74 67 73, B Pieters (RSA) 76 68 70,

215 J Kruger (RSA) 73 71 71, A Hartø (Den) 72 72 71, V Groenewald (RSA) 71 73 71, R Strauss (RSA) 71 71 73, C Basson (RSA) 72 68 75, D Greene (RSA) 70 74 71,

216 M Jonzon (Swe) 69 74 73, A Tadini (Ita) 71 73 72, J Roos (RSA) 72 72 72, A Snobeck (Fra) 72 71 73,

217 M Carlsson (Swe) 73 70 74, W Coetsee (RSA) 69 73 75,

219 J Ahlers (RSA) 71 73 75,

220 C Cévaër (Fra) 74 70 76,

225 M Williams (RSA) 73 71 81.