Scotland’s Calum Hill was on the prowl and staring at a best tour result heading into the final round of Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in South Africa.
Hill, 26 birdied three of his closing four holes in a 67 for a nine-under tally to be sharing sixth place and just five shots from the front in the co-sanctioned event at Malelane.
Poland’s Adrian Meronk continues to lead the field by one shot in a third round 71 for a 14-under tally.
The 27-year old who was born in Hamburg, Germany is looking to become the first Polish player in the near 50-year history to win on the European Tour.
Scot Calum Hill looking to secure a best Tour finish at the Alfred Dunhill Championship
South African Jayden Schaper played his closing four holes in four-under in a 67 to be in second place and with compatriot Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and the highest ranked player at No. 61 in the field, now the biggest threat to Meronk’s date with Tour history.
Bezuidenhout grabbed five birdies in a 68 to be in third place on 11-under par.
Hill just gets better with each round posting a first round 71 and backing that up with a 67 and producing six birdies in his day three effort.
He said: “I’m very happy and I didn’t see a leader-board all day till the final hole and didn’t realise how high up I was.
“So, very happy as it puts me in a decent spot for tomorrow.
“I decided not to throw in a really bad shot somewhere so I didn’t make a double-bogey somewhere so I just limited my game to a few less mistakes and my scoring was pretty good.
“I’m now looking forward to the final round as it will be nice to go out there as I feel quite comfortable on this golf course which is a not thing to have, so hopefully I can go out and shoot another low score.”
Hill has played just 23 events on the main Tour with a best finish on eighth in August at the Wales Open and at 112th on the Race to Dubai, the rookie Scot can also secure his card with a big finish in the second of the three South Africa Swing events.
Scott Jamieson spoiled his 37th birthday celebration with a disappointing mixed bag of a 15th hole eagle but only after a roller-coaster run of four birdies but also four bogeys and a seventh hole double in his 72 to remain at seven under but drop to a share of 10th.
And it was yet another frustrating day for Oban lefty Bob MacIntyre posting a second straight 70 to move to four-under par and just a place outside the top-20.
