News All Articles
Louis Oosthuizen back on top in Mauritius
Report

Louis Oosthuizen back on top in Mauritius

Louis Oosthuizen moved himself into pole position to make it back-to-back wins on the DP World Tour with a third-round 65 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

The South African lifted the trophy last time out at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and five days later opened up a one-shot lead as he moved to 14 under at La Réserve Golf Links at Heritage Golf Club.

Countryman Jacques P de Villiers was the nearest challenger after firing a 68, two shots clear of England's Laurie Canter, who carded a 65 to get to 11 under.

South Africans Jaco Prinsloo and Jayden Schaper were then four shots off the lead.

Oosthuizen - who helped design this week's layout alongside Peter Matkovich - made three eagles in his round to go with four birdies and two bogeys.

"I think that was the first time I ever did three eagles in one round and I missed a short putt for eagle on eight," he said.

"I played really well, I got very lucky on number 12 finding my ball and then made a big putt for birdie, but all in all just played well.

"I was giving myself opportunities and I still feel like I'm rolling the ball good on the green so hopefully I can do the same tomorrow.

"I'm playing well so it's all going to be on how I manage myself and think process around this golf course.

"It's nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time to come here as the co-designer but Peter has done a phenomenal job."

Oosthuizen started the day three shots off the lead but was quickly on the move, making birdies on the second and third.

A bogey followed on the fourth but he then made back-to-back eagles as he put his second at the par-five fifth inside ten feet and then chipped in on the driveable par-four sixth.

He almost eagled the par-five eighth but had to settle for a birdie after missing his five-footer and a bogey on the next meant he had company at the top in the shape of De Villiers.

Incredibly, the 33-year-old started bogey-bogey but a tee-shot to seven feet on the par-three fourth got him going and he took advantage of the next before holing a putt from off the green on the sixth for an eagle.

Another fine tee-shot to six feet at the seventh had him in a share and he then got up and down on the next to lead alone.

A slippery right-to-lefter on the 12th after a brilliant recovery from a ragged drive coupled with a De Villiers bogey on the 11th had Oosthuizen on top and better was to come when he made a third eagle of the day on the 15th.

That long right-to-lefter up the hill had him three clear but his advantage was trimmed by a three-putt from the fringe on the 17th before De Villiers got up and down on the 18th for a closing birdie.

Canter made a birdie on the fourth and then proceeded to take advantage of the gettable holes, picking up further gains on the par-five fifth, eighth, 12th and 15th, and driveable par-four sixth and 13th.

Schaper started and finished his 67 with bogeys but picked up five birdies and an eagle in between, while Prinsloo had an eagle, six birdies, a bogey and a double in registering the same score.

South Africans Pieter Moolman and Lyle Rowe carded rounds of 69 and 70 respectively to sit at nine under, a shot clear of countrymen Darren Fichardt and Dylan Naidoo, Germans Marcel Schneider and Marcel Siem and England's Paul Waring.

Read next