Scotland’s Scott Jamieson is staring at a massive Euro 1m victory payday in moving one shot clear of the field heading to the final round of the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in South African.
Jamieson, 33 signed for a five-under 67 to move to eight-under par with overnight leader Frenchman Victor Dubuisson two-putting the last for a par in a round of 71 to be in second place on seven-under par.
Scott Jamieson staring at a massive Euro 1m victory payday at Nedbank Challenge. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
The duo of South African Branden Grace (68) and Germany’s double Major winning Martin Kaymer (69) share third at five-under par.
Jamieson went into the third day of the $US 7.5m event sharing fourth place and three shots adrift of Dubuisson but found himself tied for the lead courtesy of birdies at the second, fourth and ninth holes of the Gary Player designed course.
The Glaswegian then went two shots clear with birdies at 13 and 14 before Dubuisson, and playing two groups behind, birdied 14 to cut the Scot’s lead to just one.
“I was much better on the greens today than I had been the first couple days, so that was nice,” said Jamieson.
“It’s exciting now as I’m in a good position and tomorrow will be a new challenge, so looking forward to it.”
In fact, Jamieson has contested 141 Tour events since his one and only victory in his very first event of the 2013 schedule and also in South Africa.
The Scot had shot rounds of 66 and 57 on a shortened and rain-affected Durban course to win in a play-off in what was the first of two Nelson Mandela Championship’s.
Dubuisson’s round was a mix of four birdies and one less bogey as he kept alive a goal of a third Tour victory after his pair of Turkish Airlines Open wins in 2013 and 2015.
“I played as good as the first two rounds but my putting was maybe not as good,” he said.
“I missed some good opportunities, but the problem is I felt like all day, I had tricky, downhill putts, and I couldn’t really go for it because I didn’t want to, the course, it’s a really tough course.
“I never wanted to give myself 3 1/2, four feet second putts. So, I kind of putted very easy. That’s why I didn’t make as many birdies as the day before.”
Dual Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari produced the lowest round of the day with the Italian managing seven birdies in his bogey-free 65 to be sharing fifth place on three-under par.
And England’s Tommy Fleetwood has kept alive a goal of securing the Race to Dubai No. 1 title in recording an eagle and five birdies in his score of 67 to move into a share of seventh spot at two-under.
“Today I was playing, trying to get yourself into some kind of contention for the tournament”, he said.
“I am mentally prepared for tomorrow, big time.
“Hopefully you’ve always got something to play for towards the end of the year, whether it’s top 30, gets you in The Open or Top-10, Race to Dubai, and it’s a new experience trying to win it.
“So, every shot counts and every shot should count throughout the year. Just gets magnified towards the end of it.”
Last year, Sweden’s Alex Noren came from a similar shot deficit to win ‘Africa’s Major’ and Fleetwood will need to do the same.
