Austria’s Max Steinlechner will take a one-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round of the Sunshine Tour’s Mediclinic Invitational at the Heron Banks Golf and River Resort.
The former top-ranked Austrian amateur and North Carolina State University golfer signed for a third round of 65 to top the field on 19 under par, and including a strong run of five birdies in six holes over the turn.
He is one stroke clear of Daniel van Tonder, who posted a 65 of his own including two eagles in three holes on the back nine as he chases a first victory in 2025.
Jacques Blaauw heads into Sunday’s final round in third place on 16 under par following a 64, while Nikhil Rama produced the low round of the day with a 63 that lifted him to 11 under par overall.
Some of the best shots from round 3 of the #MediclinicInvitational
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) January 18, 2025
🎥 @SuperSportTV #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/LqwMS3EBWP
Steinlechner has taken full advantage of being granted an invitation this week and is now one round away from a maiden victory on the Sunshine Tour.
“I am playing this week on an invite as preparation for the upcoming co-sanctioned HotelPlanner Tour (formerly European Challenge Tour) events on the Sunshine Tour,” he told the Sunshine Tour.
After graduating from college in 2023, Steinlechner teed off his professional career with a few tournament invitations on the HotelPlanner Tour. “I started playing well in the second half of the season and finished 61st on the rankings, which gives me a full category on the Tour this year,” he said.
Leader with one round to go, Maximilian Steinlechner delighting the home crowds with his short game on the 18th. 📊#mediclinicinvitational #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/Dd7bsDT2II
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) January 18, 2025
It’s a positive start for the Austrian in South Africa and definitely the preparation he’s looking for ahead of the four co-sanctioned tournaments between the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour in January and February, and starting with next week’s SDC Open.
“It’s my first tournament of the year so I’m happy with the way I’ve started. I really like being here. The people are nice, the food is very good. It’s also nice for me to be able to play golf now because it’s winter in the northern hemisphere. I really enjoy being here and having the opportunity to play,” he said.
How things stands with 18 holes to go. 📊#MediclinicInvitational #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/TtgXPLoylZ
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) January 18, 2025
SCORES
194 - Maximilian Steinlechner 64 65 65
195 - Daniel van Tonder 67 63 65
197 - Jacques Blaauw 66 67 64
198 - Jonathan Broomhead 63 69 66
199 - Werner Deyzel 70 65 64
200 - JC Ritchie 67 67 66, Fredrik From 66 67 67
201 - Callum Mowat 67 68 66, Jean Hugo 66 67 68, Altin van der Merwe 69 64 68
202 - Nikhil Rama 71 68 63, Samuel Simpson 72 66 64, Stefan Wears-Taylor 66 70 66, Dian Kruger 69 66 67
203 - Yurav Premlall 69 69 65, Heinrich Bruiners 67 69 67, Luke Brown 69 66 68, Benjamin Van Wyk 71 63 69
204 - Jbe Kruger 68 71 65, Gerhard Pepler 69 68 67, Keagan Thomas 69 67 68, Stals Swart 71 65 68, Martin Rohwer 69 66 69, James Mack 68 66 70, Wynand Dingle 66 66 72
205 - Graham van der Merwe 69 68 68, Justin Walters 68 69 68, Tyran Snyders 67 69 69, Quintin Wilsnach 68 68 69, Jaco Van Zyl 66 67 72
206 - Lyle Rowe 70 70 66, Pieter Moolman 70 67 69, Dayne Moore 67 70 69, CJ du Plessis 69 67 70, Rupert Kaminski 68 67 71
207 - Kyle McClatchie 67 73 67, JJ Senekal 68 70 69, Joe Long 67 71 69, Keenan Davidse 72 65 70
208 - Colin Nel 71 69 68, Martin Vorster 70 70 68, Louis Albertse 70 70 68, Ethan Smith 70 69 69, Ruan Groenewald 70 68 70, Brandon Pieters 68 69 71, Ruan de Smidt 67 70 71, MJ Viljoen 69 66 73
209 - Robson Chinhoi 73 67 69, Stuart Krog 72 68 69, Craig Ross 70 68 71, Jovan Rebula 66 70 73
210 - Keith Horne 67 73 70, Malcolm Mitchell 69 71 70, Otto Van Buynder 71 69 70
211 - Rourke van der Spuy 67 73 71, Promise Sombreiro 68 71 72, Rhys West 70 68 73, Kyle Barker 67 71 73, Simon du Plooy 65 73 73, Regan Steyn 67 70 74
212 - Karabo Mokoena 71 67 74
213 - Leon Vorster 70 70 73, Herman Loubser 71 68 74
214 - Adam Breen 67 73 74, Eugene Du Plessis 73 67 74
215 - Jack Hawksby 68 71 76
217 - Lyle Pedro 69 71 77, Andrew Williamson 70 70 77
Missed the cut:
141 - Franklin Manchest 69 72, Gregory Mckay 71 70, Matthew Spacey 70 71, Travis Ladner 74 67, Therion Nel 71 70, Christopher Long 68 73, Ruan Conradie 75 66, Christiaan Burke 71 70, Jake Redman 68 73
142 - Makhetha Mazibuko 71 71, Christian Kriek 70 72, Keegan Mclachlan 70 72, Alex Haindl 71 71, Keelan van Wyk 73 69, Vaughn van Deventer 70 72, Sentanio Minnie 74 68, Jason Roets 77 65, Jordan Duminy 72 70
143 - Hayden Griffiths 72 71, Thabiso Ngcobo 75 68, Jacob Oakley 72 71, Nick Cunningham 67 76, Trevor Fisher Jnr 71 72, Tristin Galant 69 74, Jaco Prinsloo 71 72, Kayle Wykes 74 69, Brandon Meads 74 69
144 - Cornel Muller 71 73, Ross Mcgowan 72 72, Jacques P de Villiers 76 68, Danie Van Niekerk 72 72, Haydn Porteous 72 72, Umar Davids 73 71, Gerard du Plooy 71 73, Toto Thimba Jnr 72 72, Pierre Pellegrin 70 74, Conner Mackenzie 77 67, Kyle De Beer 71 73
145 - Christo Roos 72 73, Sean Cronje 74 71, Brandon Gildenhuys 71 74, Merrick Bremner 75 70, James Pennington 75 70
146 - David Amm 74 72, Neil Schietekat 72 74, Ricky Hendler 72 74, Estiaan Conradie 79 67
147 - Dylan O'Leary 75 72, LB Boshoff 77 70, Pride Sembo 73 74, James Kamte 75 72, Gary Kemp 73 74, Bradford Vaughan 78 69
148 - Andre De Decker 71 77
149 - Ruan Korb 72 77, Fabrizio De Abreu 76 73
152 - Albert Venter 76 76
154 - Irvin Mazibuko 72 82