Bezuidenhout goes 5 shots clear at South African Open

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This article was published 05/12/2020 (2099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SUN CITY, South Africa – Christiaan Bezuidenhout moved five shots clear at the South African Open on Saturday and well on course for a second straight win on the European Tour.

The South African carded a 5-under 67 in the third round — his third straight 67 at this tournament — to move to 15 under overall and comfortably clear of Jamie Donaldson (72) and Dylan Frittelli (70).

Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., shot 72 on the heels of Friday’s 68 to sit tied for 12th.

Bezuidenhout and Donaldson began the day tied for the lead at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

It all changed around the turn when Bezuidenhout made birdies at Nos. 6 and 7 and Donaldson made bogeys at Nos. 8, 10 and 11.

Bezuidenhout extended his lead with three more birdies on the back nine.

Bezuidenhout won last weekend at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and has a good chance of becoming the first player since Justin Rose in 2017 to win European Tour events on consecutive weeks.

South Africa’s Frittelli and Wales’ Donaldson are on 10 under. There are four South Africans in the top five with Dean Burmester (71) and JC Ritchie (66), tied for fourth on 9 under.

The South African Open is the third European Tour event in South Africa in three weeks ahead of the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai next week.

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