Darren Fichardt and Benjamin Follett-Smith will share a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open.
Fichardt posted a sensational bogey-free ten under par round of 62, before Follett-Smith carded a five under 67 to join him at the top of the leaderboard on 13 under, one-shot ahead of South African Dylan Mostert in third.
Fichardt’s 62 would have seen him officially equal the course record had preferred lies not been in place, and the five-time DP World Tour winner believes his tempo was key to successfully navigating the tree-lined layout at Royal Cape Golf Club.
“I managed to start off with three birdies in a row and carried that momentum through the rest of the round,” he said. “I was in the zone today and overall, I played some solid golf.
“This course suits me because it’s not long which means I’m able to shape my shots without smashing it off the tee and I was able to get into a good rhythm.
“I took a long break in December, and I’ve fixed a lot of parts of my game that were struggling. I’m excited with where my game is at the moment and I’m looking forward to the final day.”
Follett-Smith, who won the Cape Town Open in 2019, was pleased with his five under par third round and is looking to become just the second man to win the event twice following JC Ritchie’s back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2022.
“I played very solid the whole day and there were some low scores which motivated me to stay at the top of the leaderboard,” he said.
“My victory in 2019 creeps in my mind every time I come back to this amazing golf club and I’ve been able to get the job done here before which gives me confidence heading into the final round.”
Overnight leader Jaco van Zyl and Spaniard Manuel Elvira share fourth place on 11 under, while English duo Daniel O’Loughlin and Ashley Chesters, Germany’s Velten Meyer, Ireland’s Conor Purcell and South African Martin Vorster are a shot further back in sixth.
The final round of the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open will get under way at 7:45am local time, with Fichardt and Follett-Smith teeing it up in the final group alongside Mostert at 9:55am.
