The Telkom PGA Championship is renowned for some low scoring, and Saturday at Country Club Johannesburg was no exception.
Louis Albertse climbed into the lead on 23 under par with a third round of 63. This is the best tournament score under par since George Coetzee won with 27 under par in 2011, and there’s still one more round to go. The tournament record is Louis Oosthuizen’s 28 under par in 2008.
Starting the day two shots behind the overnight leader Samuel Simpson, Albertse was on fire with his putter as he made six birdies in eight holes from the third, and then closed off his round with three birdies in his final four holes.
What a round to claim the top spot ahead of the final round🔥💪 #greatnessbeginshere #sunshinetour #telkompgachampionship https://t.co/xwlBeHVTus
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) November 7, 2026
He finished the round three shots clear of his nearest challenger, Simpson, who posted a 68. Playing together, Simpson was in awe of the golf played by Albertse.
“Louis played some incredible golf. Just so solid and his putting is incredible, so well done to him. It’s a big day tomorrow,” he said.
Simpson didn’t have his best game on Saturday but still produced some quality golf to keep him in the hunt for this title in a season where he’s stood out with his three wins already.
“I’m really proud of the way I fought even with not my best. To finish with three birdies in a row, and a couple of par saves. Finishing second in last year’s tournament, I would love to get my hands on the trophy,” he said.
“I think the reason my average golf is getting better, is that I am just really enjoying the good and the bad of everything, as it is almost impossible to be perfect. So, I understand that a day like today where I am not on, I am still enjoying the grind. I am looking forward to tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens. I’m going to get a good, nice rest and chase down the trophy.”
Simpson’s performance this week caught the eye of Dean Burmester, who had high praise for the 24-year-old after playing with him earlier in the tournament.
“It’s so good to see a kid with that much talent, to be able to bomb it like that and hit it straight is impressive. He really impressed me and is a generational talent for sure,” Burmester said.
The recent Rwanda Open champion, Kyle de Beer, made a late charge with birdies on the closing two holes to sign for a round of 65 to move into third place overall on 19 under par.
“Today I had a really nice group with Dean (Burmester) and Deon (Germishuys), and that relaxed atmosphere helped me to also play some good golf. Coming off the Rwanda win, there is definitely no fear going into tomorrow. Playing with Louis (Albertse) and Samuel (Simpson) tomorrow, I know I’ll have to be on top form,” De Beer said.
And Burmester, at just five shots off the lead, is equally excited about a final round where he has the chance to add to his 2021 triumph in this event.
“It was nice to finish with a birdie. It keeps me in the hunt, and I know I’m going to have to shoot a low round. But 10 under is out there, so why not me. Well go hunting tomorrow.”
Louis Albertse shot a cool 63 to go top ahead of the final round of the #telkompgachampionship #sunshinetour #greatnessbeginshere https://t.co/dEfhoVdZhi
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) November 7, 2026
SCORES AT END OF ROUND 3
193 - Louis Albertse 65 65 63
196 - Samuel Simpson 65 63 68
197 - Kyle De Beer 63 69 65
198 - Dean Burmester 67 64 67
199 - Gerhard Pepler 70 66 63
200 - Joe Sullivan 66 68 66
201 - Daniel Cronje 68 67 66
201 - Daniel van Tonder 66 69 66, Luke Brown 63 71 67
202 - Jaco Prinsloo 67 67 68
202 - Tyran Snyders 64 70 68
203 - Benjamin Kedochim 70 68 65
203 - Ethan Smith 66 68 69
204 - Cole Stevens 70 69 65
204 - Charl Barnard 69 69 66, Jean-Paul Strydom 67 71 66, Gabriel Morgan 67 70 67, Jaco Ahlers 67 69 68, Deon Germishuys 64 69 71, Kieron van Wyk 64 66 74
205 - Vuyisani Makama 71 68 66
205 - Estiaan Conradie 71 67 67, Graham van der Merwe 69 68 68, Malan Potgieter 71 66 68, Justin Walters 69 67 69, Tristen Strydom 66 69 70, Warwick Purchase 67 68 70
206 - James Mack 69 69 68
206 - Pierre Viallaneix 65 69 72, George Coetzee 65 69 72
207 - Ryan van der Klis 71 68 68
207 - Luke Jerling 71 67 69, Ricky Hendler 66 70 71, Jbe Kruger 68 67 72
208 - Trevor Fisher Jnr 69 69 70
208 - Kyle Barker 69 68 71, Nikhil Rama 70 67 71, Jaco Van Zyl 70 66 72
209 - Albert Venter 70 69 70
209 - Njoroge Kibugu 68 71 70, Haydn Porteous 70 69 70, Robson Chinhoi 71 67 71
210 - Keegan Mclachlan 71 68 71
210 - Thomas Spreadborough 67 71 72, Kian Rose 68 69 73, Keelan Africa 69 68 73, Dayne Moore 68 67 75
211 - Dian Kruger 72 67 72
211 - Adam Breen 71 68 72, Benjamin Follett-Smith 67 71 73, Travis Ladner 68 68 75
212 - Ockie Strydom 70 69 73
216 - Jason Roets 69 70 77