Jacques Kruyswijk climbed to the top of the leaderboard ahead of the final round of the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa after firing a bogey-free 64 on Saturday afternoon.
The South African went into the third round seven shots off the lead but as others struggled in breezy conditions at Muthaiga Golf Club, Kruyswijk carded seven birdies in a flawless display to take a one-shot lead into day four.
Kruyswijk, who will go in search of his maiden DP World Tour title on Sunday, could have been even further in front had Lady Luck been smiling on him, as he was twice denied on the front nine.
First, his long eagle putt at the 4th looked destined for the hole, only for it to stop one roll before the cup and somehow stay above ground. Then on the 9th, his chip lipped out to deny him a birdie.
But he brushed off any feelings of injustice to make five birdies on the back nine – including closing gains on the 17th and 18th, and reach 14 under par.
Halfway leader John Parry was alone in second on 13 under after finishing his 72 with a birdie. The Englishman had led by as many as three shots on the front nine but was reeled in by the impressive Kruyswijk.
Frenchman Benjamin Hebert sat third on 11 under after his 73, with South African Deon Germishuys fourth on 10 under after shooting 67.
Kruyswijk opened his round with three successive pars before getting his first birdie of the day from tap-in range at the 4th after his lengthy eagle attempt had stopped agonisingly short.
The 32-year-old picked up further shots on the 8th, 10th and 12th and then sent his approach at the 15th to a few feet and rolled in the birdie putt to get within one shot of the lead.
A four-foot birdie at the 17th earned Kruyswijk a share of the lead on 13 under before Parry’s bogey on the 16th behind him saw the South African sit alone at the top of the leaderboard.
And Kruyswijk finished in style, holing his tricky 15-foot birdie putt on the last to post the lowest round of the day by two shots.
“It was super breezy out there today but I played a really good game plan around this golf course, I wasn’t over-aggressive – as you could see on the last couple,” said Kruyswijk.
“I rolled a couple in, which is great, it’s always nice, but I just played super consistent and my mindset’s been really good all week.
“So whatever happens tomorrow is going to happen but I’m ready.”
Asked what it would mean to get his hands on the trophy on Sunday, Kruyswijk said: “It would be special. I don’t want to get emotional but I’m going to stay very focused tonight and if I can bring this home for South Africa it’d be huge for me.”
– Edited report from DP World Tour website
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images
