Louis Oosthuizen will take a one-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at La Réserve Golf Links.
Playing a golf course he co-designed with Peter Matkovich, Oosthuizen now seems intent on showing how to win on it as well following a third round of 65 which included three eagles and which lifted him into the lead on 14 under par.
Jacques P de Villiers is his nearest challenger on 13 under par following a 68, while Laurie Canter is currently third on 11 under par after signing for a 65 on Saturday.
Oosthuizen won last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship to end a five-year win drought, and now looks set to double up with a win in Mauritius.
“I think that was the first time I’ve ever made three eagles in one round, and I missed a short putt for eagle on the 8th hole,” he said. “I got such a boost from hitting a very good four iron into the 5th and making an eagle and then chipping it in for eagle on the 6th. That sort of momentum gets you going.
“The wind was tough and there were some good holes out there, but I think I managed myself very well. I played really well.”
THIRD eagle of his round! @Louis57TM opens up a three-shot lead. #AfrAsiaBankMauritiusOpen pic.twitter.com/X0YUyicvyI
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 16, 2023
Should the South African triumph on Sunday it would complete a summer of co-sanctioned doubles on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, with fellow South African Dean Burmester winning back-to-back in the Joburg Open and the Investec South African Open.
“I’m playing well so it’s all going to be about how I manage myself in the final round and my thought process around this golf course,” said Oosthuizen. “With the wind being this strong you can miss a shot and easily get into trouble out there. But hopefully I keep calm and manage myself well and see if I can get another victory.”
Behind him, De Villiers is doing his best to focus on his own game as he prepares to tee it up in the final group with Major champion Oosthuizen.
“King Louis, indeed. I can’t control what he does but I can control what I do. I’ve got my plan. I’ve been playing well this season and I’ll stick to my game and hit my goals and focus on myself. Louis does his job and he does it well so we’ll see how it goes. I’m in there with a shout and that’s always a good feeling.”
Photo: Sunshine Tour
