Mexico’s Luis Carrera and Australia’s Austin Bautista will head into Sunday’s final round of the FBC Zim Open chasing maiden Sunshine Tour victories.
Carrera heads the field at Royal Harare Golf Club 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 1st hole while playing partner Viljoen signalled his intent with an eagle two at the 1st.
“MJ hit a great shot on the first and eagled, and I bogeyed so it was a three-shot swing,” said Carrera. “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.
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 Zim Open after twice finishing second in 2012 and 2017, losing in a playoff on both occasions.
Photo: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour
