Galgorm Castle’s Joshua Hill and Malone’s Matthew McClean have their work cut out to catch French world number 92 Martin Couvra in the final round of the South African Stroke Play Championship.

Couvra carded a five-under 67 in the third round on the Lakes Course at Mount Edgecombe Country Club and leads by four strokes from Hill, who shot a 74, and South Africa’s Jean Pierre van der Watt (70) and Scotland’s Matthew Wilson (69) on nine-under-par.

McClean, the reigning US Mid-Amateur champion, is a shot further back in a tie for fifth on four-under after a third-round 75.

Leading by a shot from McClean after 36 holes, Hill sandwiched birdies at the second, sixth and seventh between bogeys at the first and eighth to turn in one-under.

But he came home in three-over as he followed an eagle three at the 11th with back-to-back double-bogey sixes at the 12th and 14th and a bogey six at the 17th for his 74.

McClean had five bogeys and just two birdies in his 75.

Naas’ Robert Brazill shot 73 to share 19th in two-over with Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley tied 24th on three-over after a 76.

Castle’s Robert Moran shot 72 to share 31st on four-over with Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly and Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe joint 35th on five-over after rounds of 73 and 76, respectively.

South African Stroke Play Championship, Mount Edgecombe Country Club (Lakes Course, Par 72)

Scoring