Ryan van Velzen picked up exactly where he ended 2023 by playing the same high-quality golf as he signed for a 64 in a weather-interrupted third round to lead the Mediclinic Invitational by a single stroke at Maccauvlei Golf Club on Saturday.
Despite a major thunderstorm that delayed play, Van Velzen showed the composure of a young star who knows he belongs at the highest level of the game as he climbed into the lead on 17 under par.
Behind him on 16 under lies the experience of Neil Schietekat who posted a 66, while the equally experienced Oliver Bekker will start Sunday’s final round just two shots back following a 66 of his own.
Further down the leaderboard, Yurav Premlall is pushing for his maiden victory on the Sunshine Tour at 14 under par after posting a third round of 66, while Dylan Naidoo is also well placed on 13 under par, and also with a round of 66.
But Van Velzen’s incredible 2023 has given him a quiet confidence for the challenge that lies ahead on Sunday. The former GolfRSA elite amateur won twice on the Sunshine Tour last year and came tantalisingly close to a maiden DP World Tour title in the co-sanctioned Investec South African Open where he finished second.
“I took a month off over the festive season just to reflect on how good last year was for me. I put the clubs away and had a good holiday,” said Van Velzen.
“I actually feel like I’m playing better than I was last year.”
The experience he gained from last year showed itself as early as the par-five second hole when Van Velzen hit his second shot into the water and then hit a poor wedge shot to the back fringe of the green before making the putt to save par. Then he chipped in on the par-four third hole for an eagle.
“I think that woke me up a bit because I could’ve easily started my round with a par then a double bogey but instead I was two under through my first three holes.”
Van Velzen will have a world of experience around him on Sunday as he tees off in the final group alongside Bekker and Schietekat.
“It should be nice. I think I’ll be quite calm out there in the final round.”
SCORES
199 - Ryan Van Velzen 66 69 64
200 - Neil Schietekat 70 64 66
201 - Oliver Bekker 65 70 66
202 - Yurav Premlall 70 66 66
203 - Dylan Naidoo 70 67 66
204 - DK Kim 69 70 65, Martin Rohwer 68 72 64, Estiaan Conradie 70 68 66, Jbe Kruger 68 70 66, Jean Hugo 67 70 67, Peter Karmis 69 67 68
205 - Danie Van Niekerk 68 70 67, Luca Filippi 68 69 68, Jacques P de Villiers 67 69 69, Dylan Mostert 71 65 69, Willie Olivier 65 70 70, Jovan Rebula 66 69 70
206 - Herman Loubser 68 69 69, Robson Chinhoi 69 68 69, Ruan Conradie 69 68 69, Sean Cronje 71 65 70
207 - Jason Roets 70 69 68, Louis Albertse 68 71 68, Jacques Blaauw 67 71 69, Fredrik From 71 70 66, LB Boshoff 72 65 70, Sean Bradley 67 68 72
208 - Vaughn van Deventer 71 69 68, Keith Horne 70 70 68, Keegan Mclachlan 70 69 69, Michael Hollick 72 69 67, Ricky Hendler 69 72 67, JC Ritchie 70 72 66
209 - Ulrich van den Berg 72 67 70, Wynand Dingle 68 71 70, Quintin Wilsnach 66 73 70, Jacques Kruyswijk 70 70 69, Callum Mowat 68 70 71, Dan Erickson 72 65 72, Daniel van Tonder 71 71 67, Luke Jerling 73 69 67
210 - Robin Williams 69 71 70, Haydn Porteous 71 69 70, Ethan Smith 71 71 68
211 - Madalitso Muthiya 71 69 71, Matthew Spacey 66 72 73
212 - Leon Visser 70 70 72, Kyle Barker 69 69 74, Tyron Davidowitz 73 69 70, Stefan Wears-Taylor 71 71 70
213 - Toto Thimba Jnr 68 72 73, Gerhard Pepler 71 69 73, Jack Hawksby 72 68 73, Jonathan Broomhead 71 70 72, Thabiso Ngcobo 77 65 71, Hennie O'Kennedy 71 71 71, Nicholaus Frade 72 70 71
214 - Bryce Easton 68 72 74, Luke Trocado 69 72 73
215 - Richard Joubert 75 66 74, Trevor Fisher Jnr 70 71 74, Pieter Moolman 70 72 73, Reinhardt Blaauw 69 73 73
216 - Sentanio Minnie 69 71 76, Jason Smith 69 72 75, Wade Jacobs 71 71 74, Ruan Korb 71 71 74
Missed the cut:-
143 - Travis Ladner 72 71, MJ Viljoen 71 72, Hayden Griffiths 71 72, Kyle McClatchie 73 70, Doug McGuigan 70 73, Martin Vorster 70 73, Tristen Strydom 72 71, Lyle Rowe 73 70, Makhetha Mazibuko 66 77, Jastice Mashego 72 71
144 - Joe Long 70 74, James Kamte 71 73, Pierre Pellegrin 70 74, Rourke van der Spuy 75 69, Siyanda Mwandla 73 71, Samuel Simpson 74 70, Allister de Kock 70 74, Combrinck Smit 71 73, Stuart Krog 74 70, Alex Haindl 73 71
145 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi 70 75, Nyasha Muyambo 71 74, Luke Brown 74 71, Anthony Michael 71 74, Heinrich Bruiners 73 72, Hunter Epson 76 69, Keelan van Wyk 74 71, Anton Karlsson 72 73, James Hart du Preez 72 73, Christiaan Basson 73 72, Kyle De Beer 74 71, James Mack 75 70, Drikus Joubert 71 74, Adriel Poonan 72 73
146 - Adam Breen 75 71, CJ du Plessis 77 69, Jared Harvey 77 69, Jonathan Waschefort 69 77, Steven Le Roux 74 72, Thabang Simon 73 73, Karabo Mokoena 76 70, Albert Venter 69 77, Benjamin Follett-Smith 78 68
147 - Keelan Africa 71 76, Franklin Manchest 75 72, Conner Mackenzie 70 77, Malcolm Mitchell 72 75, Keagan Thomas 74 73, Clancy Waugh 71 76, Richie O'Donovan 76 71, Jake Redman 71 76, Erhard Lambrechts 71 76, Slenda Sithebe 73 74
148 - Omar Sandys 76 72, Nikhil Rama 73 75, Ruan de Smidt 80 68, Mandla Dlamini Jnr 74 74, Aneurin Gounden 74 74, Dayne Moore 70 78, Marcel Steyn Scholtz 71 77
149 - Gerard du Plooy 72 77, Ryan Tipping 72 77, Tristin Galant 76 73, Gerhard Trytsman 74 75, Gregory Mckay 75 74, Irvin Mazibuko 76 73
150 - Brandon-Jude Rennie 75 75, Shalan Govender 79 71
151 - Michael Kok 74 77, James Pennington 75 76
152 - Christiaan Burke 75 77
153 - Merrick Bremner 76 77, Bradford Vaughan 76 77, Alphius Kelapile 71 82
154 - Lindani Ndwandwe 77 77
RTD - Keenan Davidse 77 RTD