Four South Africans will enter the final round of the Italian Open, the second Rolex Series event – within six shots of the lead after a day of fine scoring, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Thomas Aiken vaulted himself up 31 places on the leaderboard after a third round 64 to head the chase of Saffas trying to add a much-awaited European Tour win to the country’s CV.
Aiken opened with two birdies and made three in a row from the 8th to move past a number of his countrymen in a stacked leaderboard that sees Lee Slattery in front with 18 to play. The Englishman stunned the field on Saturday with a round of 62 that has last week’s BMW PGA winner Francesco Molinari and Thorbjorn Olesen trailing by one.
Despite a bogey on the last, European Tour rookie Jacques Kruyswijk fired a 65 thanks largely in a part to a run from the 12th hole that included five birdies in six holes.
Kruyswijk moved up 27 places and, on -11, trails by five.
One back of the Pretoria player’s mark is Dean Burmester (-5) and Dylan Frittelli (-2) with Haydn Porteous settling for a 66 to sit at -9 through 54 holes.
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
