The childhood memories came flooding back for Dylan Frittelli as he moved into contention just two shots off the lead and chasing Luis Carrera going into Sunday’s final round of the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am at Irene Country Club.
As the Mexican Carrera continued his good form and took the lead on 20 under par with a third round of 66, Frittelli revelled in playing the course where he grew up and posted a 66 of his own to be the nearest challenger on 18 under par.
“I played well today. I just need to keep on it tomorrow. As long as I can be in touching distance over the last few holes, I think I can back myself to win,” said a confident Frittelli.
It was on these fairways that Frittelli honed a game that has won him titles on the Sunshine Tour, DP World Tour and PGA Tour. And a home win here in front of some familiar faces would be special on Sunday.
“It’s really good to be back at Irene. I’m enjoying it a lot and it’s fun to see some familiar faces from 15 to 20 years ago. I’m happy to play a course with different skills now and a different view of the course from when I last saw it,” he said.
But Carrera has been in exceptional form. After winning the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School he claimed his maiden Sunshine Tour victory in last week’s FBC Zim Open, and is now hunting back-to-back titles on Tour.
It will indeed be a thrilling final round, with Gerhard Pepler and Trevor Fisher Jnr. just three shots off the lead. Pepler kept himself in contention with a faultless round of 65, while Fisher Jnr. signed for a 67 to see them tied on 17 under par.
Kieran Vincent has also made a solid defence of his title and signed for a 66 to place him tied sixth on 15 under par.
SCORES:
196 - Luis Carrera 63 67 66
198 - Dylan Frittelli 69 63 66
199 - Gerhard Pepler 65 69 65, Trevor Fisher Jnr 64 68 67
200 - JC Ritchie 65 66 69
201 - Kieran Vincent 70 65 66, Jovan Rebula 66 67 68, Jonathan Broomhead 66 63 72
202 - Oliver Bekker 67 68 67, Martin Vorster 66 67 69
203 - Thomas Spreadborough 68 70 65
204 - Hennie Otto 71 65 68, Jaco Prinsloo 70 65 69, Estiaan Conradie 71 63 70, Rourke van der Spuy 67 66 71
205 - Stefan Wears-Taylor 69 68 68
206 - Jason Roets 70 70 66, Ryan Van Velzen 65 70 71, Jean Hugo 69 66 71, Graham van der Merwe 68 68 70, JJ Senekal 69 67 70
207 - Herman Loubser 74 67 66, Ruan Conradie 69 70 68, Rhys Enoch 67 68 72, Austin Bautista 69 69 69, Conner Mackenzie 67 71 69
208 - Lyle Rowe 72 69 67, Tyrone Ryan 71 70 67, Jordan Burnand 70 70 68, Keenan Davidse 68 67 73, Jake Redman 72 66 70
209 - Dylan Mostert 70 70 69, Ricky Hendler 71 68 70, Keegan Mclachlan 72 65 72, Brandon Meads 68 70 71, Nikhil Rama 71 67 71
210 - Rowan Lester 70 71 69, Rhys West 70 71 69, Fredrik From 69 71 70, Stals Swart 69 71 70, Jaco Van Zyl 69 71 70, Neil Schietekat 69 70 71, Hennie O'Kennedy 70 69 71, Jbe Kruger 70 69 71, Luke Jerling 72 67 71, Ruan de Smidt 70 68 72
211 - Rupert Kaminski 71 70 70, Jordan Duminy 71 70 70, Keagan Thomas 70 71 70, Gregory Mckay 70 69 72, James Mack 70 66 75, Simon du Plooy 69 69 73
212 - Jack Hawksby 68 72 72, Heinrich Bruiners 70 69 73
213 - Luke Mayo 69 72 72, Samuel Simpson 66 75 72, Jacques P de Villiers 69 72 72, Dayne Moore 69 71 73, Eric Wowor 71 68 74
214 - Doug McGuigan 72 69 73, Malcolm Mitchell 68 72 74, Stephen Ferreira 72 68 74
215 - Luca Filippi 71 69 75
216 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi 68 72 76, Liam Grehan 71 67 78
218 - Allister de Kock 73 68 77, Ruan Korb 68 72 78
MISSED THE CUT:-
142 - Sean Cronje 71 71, Joe Knox 68 74, Joe Long 74 68, Keelan Africa 69 73, Luke Brown 69 73, George Coetzee 72 70, Pieter Moolman 70 72
143 - Otto Van Buynder 73 70, Anthony Michael 72 71, Marcus Sandile Taylor 69 74, Altin van der Merwe 74 69
144 - Pierre Pellegrin 72 72, Kyle De Beer 65 79, Trevor Mahoney 72 72, CJ du Plessis 72 72, Jean-Paul Strydom 72 72, Franklin Manchest 70 74, Christiaan Burke 72 72, MJ Viljoen 72 72, Martin Rohwer 72 72
145 - Christian Kriek 74 71, Wynand Dingle 75 70, Pierre Viallaneix 71 74, Madalitso Muthiya 75 70
146 - Toto Thimba Jnr 74 72, Karabo Mokoena 75 71, Siyanda Mwandla 70 76, Thabiso Ngcobo 73 73, Kyle McClatchie 74 72, Stuart Krog 74 72, Louis Albertse 75 71, Albert Venter 73 73, Warwick Purchase 69 77, Paul Boshoff 75 71
147 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 75 72, Werner Deyzel 77 70, Matthew Spacey 73 74
148 - Sentanio Minnie 74 74
149 - Tyran Snyders 71 78, Christiaan Basson 78 71, Kayle Wykes 76 73, Robson Chinhoi 73 76
150 - Tristin Galant 77 73, Kyle Barker 75 75, Thanda Mavundla 74 76
151 - Jacquin Hess 73 78, Jastice Mashego 75 76, Nick Cunningham 73 78
153 - Merrick Bremner 79 74, Callum Mowat 78 75
156 - Danie Van Niekerk 74 82
162 - Umar Davids 76 86
RTD - Dylan O'Leary 78 RTD