Final round showdown awaits as Verster holds one-shot lead in Africa Amateur Championship
Ivan Verster of South Africa tees off during day three of the Africa Amateur Championship and Amateur Women's Invitational at Leopard Creek Country Club on February 23, 2024 in Malelane, South Africa. (Photo by Octavio Passos/R&A via Getty Images
Ivan Verster holds a one-shot over Christiaan Maas going into the final round of the Africa Amateur Championship after a dramatic third day’s play at Leopard Creek.
The 20-year-old South African carded a 67 that included nine birdies to finish the third round on 14-under-par, while fellow countryman Maas found red-hot form with the putter to make an eagle and seven birdies on the way to a course record-equaling bogey-free nine-under-par 63 to move into second place on 13-under-par.
Overnight leader Altin van der Merwe experienced a round of contrasting fortunes and settled for a one-under-par 71 to sit in third place, three shots off the pace on 11-under-par.
“It was a really good performance and I’m feeling good,” said Verster.
“I was six under through 11, but doubled the next hole. I managed to respond well to finish birdie-birdie so it really gives me confidence going into tomorrow.
“I saw (Christiaan) Maas had a 63 today, so there's a low score out there. Anyone within four or five shots has a good chance, but I'll just do my best and try and keep them at bay.”
Maas, the top-ranked player in the field, made a dream start to the round by going birdie-eagle-birdie on the opening three holes. A string of steady pars was broken with two back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th, before picking up further shots on the 15th and 17th.
An eagle chance on the 18th put Maas within touching distance of setting a new course record 62, but his putt rolled agonisingly past the edge of the hole, meaning he had to settle for a nine-under 63, joining Scott Jamieson, Ockie Strydom and 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen as course record holders at Leopard Creek.
“I thought it was a good performance and I managed to cut out the mistakes I made yesterday,” said Maas.
“Today gives me a lot of momentum going into the final round. I suppose I’ve just been building from the first day, playing better and making less mistakes. Hopefully tomorrow I can continue and go bogey-free again.
“Luckily, I'm in the final group, so I can see what happens around me. I didn't really have an idea of how Ivan (Verster) or Altin (van der Merwe) were playing. Tomorrow will be a good battle and I’m very excited about it.”
For van der Merwe, it was a day of highs and lows as the South African mixed an eagle and five birdies with four disappointing bogeys and a frustrating double-bogey at the par-5 13th on the way to a 71.
The 27-year-old is aiming for back-to-back wins after winning the Golf RSA International Amateur at Houghton last week and remains in the hunt for the championship.
“I started very well, but I would say through 9,10 and 11, it was pretty poor and I lost focus,” said van der Merwe.
“We were three good friends playing together, so we tried to build each other up. All of us had good holes and all of us had bad holes. I tried to be more aggressive and it bit me around the turn. The putts just didn't fall like they did yesterday, and when I ran it over the lips a couple of times, I got frustrated.
“I'm not trying to think about winning at this point. First, I’ve got to do some chasing against two good friends. It's going to be tough, but there's going to be no mercy between us when it comes to golf, so I think we're all going to go for it.”
Simon du Plooy shot a 67 to keep himself within sight of the leading group on eight-under-par, while Zimbabwean Matthew Bramford sits two shots further back in fifth place after a 71.
