Three shots dropped in his final two holes took the sting out of a job very well done for South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli at Royal Portrush.
READ: Harding puts himself into Portrush position
What might’ve been may play long into the night but regardless of the double at 17 and a bogey at the last, the John Deere Classic winner is still right in the frame with 36 to play.
Unable to make serious inroads over the first six holes – he only had one lone birdie at the second – the South African remained patient before going on a streak. Frittelli birdied 10, 11 and 12 to move within touching distance of Shane Lowry before a birdie at 15 helped him to -8. The South African safely navigated the 16th with Lowry looking likely to drop back to -8.
As it happened, the Irishman did indeed drop the last but then misfortune struck as Frittelli launched a wayward drive that saw him unable to scramble out of the 17th.
A bogey on the last followed which had Frittelli drop behind countryman Justin Harding into a share of eighth.
Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
