South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli is once again within touching distance after his Saturday 68 moved him within two of the lead at the Lyoness Open in Austria, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Frittelli, who contended at both the Shenzhen International and Volvo China Open, is 25th on the Race to Dubai, but that number could look a whole lot sweeter this time tomorrow after his moving day contribution.
His round got off to a rocky start, thanks to a bogey on the second hole. The former University of Texas man steadied the ship with a par on 3 before his day’s first birdie on the fourth hole. It was a case of pars all the way to the turn, on a day when the earlier starters stole a march on those teeing off later in the day.
Frittelli’s back nine got off to the perfect start, with birdies on 10 and 11 helping him move steadily up the leaderboard. He consolidated with three pars, before a birdie on the 15th, the first of the back to back par fives, pushed him closer to the top. A par on 16 was followed by his fifth and final birdie on the par four 17th.
He was sixth in driving accuracy, 15% better than the field, and 12th in greens in regulation on moving day, and should his numbers remain the same, he could very well be in serious contention on Sunday as he looks to close the gap on Chilean Felipe Aguilar (72).
He has Swede Johan Carlsson and local hope Sepp Straka for company on -7 after 54 holes, with compatriot Jbe Kruger one shot further back after he matched Frittelli’s 68 on Saturday.
Kruger went out in blistering fashion turning in 32, but had two bogeys on his back nine slow his momentum. Kruger is looking to add to his solitary European Tour win, which came back in 2011 at the Avantha Masters in India.
Zander Lombard dropped 10 places to sit in T15 as one of the afternoon players to struggle on Saturday. He signed for 74 after a back nine 39. The remaining South Africans, Trevor Fisher Jnr (76) and Haydn Porteous (71) will be hoping to make some good ground in their final 18 as they look to add invaluable Race to Dubai earnings to their names.
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
