With so much on the line in The Courier Guy Play-offs Series, it’s hardly surprising that everybody from the young pros to the experienced ones were feeling it in Saturday’s third round of the Serengeti Play-offs at Serengeti Estates.
Coetzee held onto his lead in this event, with a third round of 69 lifting him to 16-under par and three strokes clear going into Sunday’s final round. It will be a big final round for him as he seeks the affirmation of the hard work he’s put in since his return from injury.
The experienced Sunshine Tour professional started his third round with four birdies in his first five holes and will try to put his double bogey on 18 out of his mind.
Daniel van Tonder is his nearest challenger on 13-under following a solid 64.
But Jonathan Broomhead, who is sitting tied third with Stals Swart on 12-under, summed up the general tenseness of the play-offs when he said, “There’s a lot on the line at the moment. I was struggling to handle my nerves today”.
Coetzee though was very happy with his long game in particular.
“I’ve been working on all parts of my game really hard, so it’s nice that something has clicked in my long game, which gets the ball into play with a chance to do something.”
If anything, as he seeks to hone his own competitive edge after his injury, Coetzee has been more than willing to lend some of his experience to the younger professionals on the Sunshine Tour.
“I feel like you learn a lot and if you take it to the grave what is the point? There is a lot to share. I tell the guys that my door is always open, just ask me and I will tell you what I know,” he said.
With Van Tonder chasing him, and young guns like Broomhead and Swart also ready to take advantage, Coetzee will use every bit of his vast experience in a final round poised to be an incredible showcase.
And that’s exactly what The Courier Guy Play-offs Series demands.
Scores
200 - George Coetzee 65 66 69
203 - Daniel van Tonder 69 70 64
204 - Stals Swart 67 68 69, Jonathan Broomhead 69 65 70
206 - JJ Senekal 65 72 69, Martin Vorster 70 67 69, Pieter Moolman 67 68 71, Ricky Hendler 69 66 71
207 - Kyle De Beer 69 71 67, Jean Hugo 74 65 68, Altin van der Merwe 66 71 70, Gerhard Pepler 72 69 66, Jaco Ahlers 71 66 70, Kyle Barker 67 69 71, Christiaan Burke 69 69 69, Herman Loubser 70 69 68, Malcolm Mitchell 72 67 68
208 - Yurav Premlall 74 66 68, Darren Fichardt 70 69 69
209 - Michael Hollick 72 71 66, Fredrik From 71 69 69, Joe Long 74 70 65
210 - Ruan Korb 70 69 71, Stefan Wears-Taylor 72 68 70, Otto Van Buynder 69 74 67, Rourke van der Spuy 70 70 70, Shaun Norris 67 70 73
211 - Jacques Blaauw 71 69 71, Jason Roets 69 71 71, Simon du Plooy 71 68 72, Graham van der Merwe 67 70 74, CJ du Plessis 71 70 70, Keenan Davidse 71 68 72
212 - MJ Viljoen 69 74 69, JC Ritchie 71 71 70, Hennie Otto 70 74 68, Dylan Naidoo 66 71 75, Ethan Smith 70 72 70, Franklin Manchest 73 66 73
213 - Keegan Mclachlan 69 77 67, Louis de Jager 71 73 69, James Mack 68 73 72, Luke Jerling 72 71 70
214 - Trevor Fisher Jnr 72 72 70, Jaco Van Zyl 73 71 70, Heinrich Bruiners 74 68 72, Martin Rohwer 72 74 68, Kyle McClatchie 71 70 73, Jovan Rebula 71 68 75, Ruan de Smidt 68 72 74, Rupert Kaminski 68 73 73, Ruan Conradie 72 70 72
216 - Nikhil Rama 73 71 72, Quintin Wilsnach 73 69 74, Rhys West 75 70 71, Jean-Paul Strydom 73 67 76, Jack Hawksby 71 73 72, Matthew Spacey 74 72 70, Stuart Krog 73 71 72
217 - Danie Van Niekerk 71 74 72, Wynand Dingle 75 71 71
219 - Samuel Simpson 70 80 69, Luke Brown 77 71 71
220 - Hennie O'Kennedy 76 73 71
222 - Dayne Moore 76 73 73, Stephen Ferreira 75 77 70, Werner Deyzel 74 75 73
223 - Robson Chinhoi 72 77 74
224 - Lyle Rowe 71 78 75
227 - Jacques P de Villiers 78 77 72
WDN - Tristin Galant 81 WDN WDN, Callum Mowat 79 73 RTD
Commenti