Daniel digs deep to keep his Limpopo lead

On the toughest day yet at Euphoria Golf and Lifestyle Estate, Daniel van Tonder signed for a round of two-over-par 74 that was still good enough to earn him a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the Limpopo Championship.

That battling third-round 74 puts him on eight under par for the tournament after a day of strong winds which blew straight into the golfers for most of the holes on this Annika Sorenstam-designed golf course.

“It was a battle. The wind was quite strong. I’d say it was either a two- or three-club wind. The greens were also tough to read. Some were firm and fast and others were slow. I managed to shoot two over par, which sounds bad, but I’m still leading by two,” said Van Tonder.

But there were some who were able to take advantage.

Brandon Stone posted a 69 that puts him on six under, where he is one of four players who are Van Tonder’s nearest challengers going into the final round.

“For the last couple of days there’s been no breeze, and I felt like something was missing. When we play on the European Tour we’ve also got a two- or three-club wind blowing. So when I saw the flags were fluttering this morning I knew it could be a potentially good moving day in my favour,” said Stone.

Germany’s Marcel Siem also had a good day with his 68 to join Stone on six under. Oliver Bekker carded a 72 to add his name on six under, and Norway’s Kristian Johannessen battled his way to a 74 to complete the chasing quartet.

But Van Tonder did enough in the difficult conditions to give the rest of the field a concern that his good form of late is possibly not going to end anytime soon. And he once again paid tribute to his wife and caddie Abi for the role she played in Saturday’s 74.

“If it wasn’t for Abi with her reading of the wind and club selection it would’ve been worse. She plays a big role in keeping me calm by making me think about different things to take my mind of golf during the round. But her reading of the wind direction is very good. There were times out there when I was a bit confused, but she was really on the ball with that.”

It was the first time this week that Van Tonder’s game has come under pressure, and he’ll be pleased to have come through that still at the top of the leaderboard.

“I like the pressure. In the final round, I’ll do what I always do. I try and just play the golf course.” – Michael Vlismas

Photo: Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour