George Coetzee will head into the final day of the Sunshine Tour’s season-ending DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB as the man to beat on 15 under par and two shots clear of his closest competitor, Jacques Kruyswijk.
Coetzee had a bit of a mixed bag in the third round, with the first six holes producing two bogeys, a double-bogey and three birdies.
After steadying the ship on the back nine with two regular pars, a birdie on the 12th hole followed by an eagle on the 13th got his round back on track as he signed for a three-under 69.
Coetzee had to rely on his solid short game to keep his round together.
“My short game had to be good today,” he said. “I felt a little bit all over the show. There were stretches where I felt like I was where I want to be and I could play golf like this forever, but that doesn’t last for long. Overall I am pretty happy, my short game saved me a bit today.”
Drawing from his vast experience, Coetzee had to keep believing in himself during Saturday’s third round. And in those moments he was able to produce the little sparks of magic that kept his challenge on track.
“More often than not today you get that feeling where you know you’re going to make it, and you almost have to force that feeling,” he said.
Fresh from a 15th career Sunshine Tour title during last week’s Serengeti Playoffs, and playing good golf after a long layoff due to an injury, Coetzee said he just wants to focus on his own game come Sunday’s season-ending last round.
“I just want to do the same stuff. I am excited to just be playing golf. It’s where I want to be,” he said.
Kruyswijk made one of the biggest moves on Saturday with a seven-under 65 that put him right in the mix for the final round on 13 under par.
Jonathan Broomhead is also well placed on 12 under par, while Michael Hollick moved into contention on 11 under par.
Photo: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour
