Mexico’s Luis Carrera and Australia’s Austin Bautista, the Sunshine Tour’s two newest qualifying school graduates, will head into Sunday’s final round of the FBC ZIM Open chasing maiden victories on the tour at Royal Harare Golf Club.
Carrera heads the field on 14 under par following a third round of 69 on Saturday. He is one stroke clear of Bautista, who signed for a 66. South Africa’s MJ Viljoen remains in contention on 12 under par following his third round of 70.
Carrera, who held the overnight lead, didn’t have the best of starts as he bogeyed the first hole while playing partner Viljoen signalled his intent with an eagle two at the first.
“MJ hit a great shot on the first and eagled, and I bogeyed so it was a three-shot swing. But there was still a lot of golf left and a lot of other players as well, so I needed to focus on my own game, which I did. It was a good round. I didn’t have my A game, but in the end I was happy that I was able to still play well,” said Carrera.
Carrera won the Sunshine Tour’s Qualifying School in April with a magnificent final round of 61 and is looking for a winning start to his career in South Africa.
Behind him, Bautista – another graduate from the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School – made the biggest move on Saturday with a sublime bogey-free 66.
The experienced Trevor Fisher Jnr. and Hennie Otto will head into the final round in tied fourth place on nine under par.
Fisher Jnr. in particular may feel he is due a victory in the FBC Zim Open after twice finishing second in 2012 and 2017, losing in a playoff on both occasions. – Michael Vlismas Media
