Scott Jamieson edges ahead at Alfred Dunhill in South Africa
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson will take a slender one-shot lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane.
The 35-year-old Glaswegian’s only previous European Tour win also came in South Africa back in 2012, and he’s given himself a real chance of another after firing a rock-solid four-under-par 68 at the gorgeous Leopard Creek Country Club, which borders the famous Kruger National Park.
Temperatures have surpassed 100 degrees ☀️
The hippos have the right idea. pic.twitter.com/c7QsC0btLt
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 15, 2018
Jamieson lies on 11 under par, just one shot clear of overnight leader David Lipsky, who kept himself in the hunt with a steady two-under-par 70.
Defending champion Brandon Stone remains in with a shout of back-to-back Alfred Dunhill wins after a 69 left him tied for third place on eight under, three back, with countryman Zander Lombard.
Back-to-back #dunhillChamps wins?@BrandonMStone goes bogey-free and will start the final day within touch of the leaders. pic.twitter.com/iSei72Luxx
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 15, 2018
The foursome at seven under – Raphael Jacquelin, Pablo Larrazabal, David Drysdale and Marc Warren – are also all still in with a shout. Jacquelin’s six-under-par was equal to the lowest round of the day, and gives the Frenchman a chance of picking up his first European Tour victory since 2013.
Last week’s South African Open champion Louis Oosthuizen lies five back after a 70, and could still have a say in the final outcome if the leaders slip up.
Jamieson is the man to catch, however, after an eventful 68 that mixed five birdies and an eagle with a bogey and a double.
The Scot needed just two shots at the par-4 11th after driving the green, but then gave both shots back when he found a treacherous bunker on the 14th and made double-bogey.
Jamieson didn’t let his head drop, however, and managed to get it back to 11 under after picking up back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 to grab the sole lead heading into Sunday’s final round.
We have a new leader, @scottjamieson54.#dunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/y9sFXCBxvq
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 15, 2018
“It’s obviously, a great place to be but I’m certainly not getting ahead of myself,” he said. “There’s an awful long way to go and a lot can happen in 18 holes, especially on this golf course, this back nine, where there’s so much risk-reward.
“There’s a long way to go and hopefully I can do it but let’s see what happens.”