Bruyns still in touch at Tailhade Cup
South Africa’s Drikus Bruyns is still in the hunt at this year’s Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup in Argentina, where Geoff Drakeford of Australia has taken charge of the Individual Competition with a superb five-under-par 66 in the rain-interrupted third round at the Los Lagartos Country Club near Buenos Aires.
The Australian leads by five stroke from overnight leader, Joshua Munn. The New Zealander, who carded a 73, shares second place with Argentina’s Martin Kim (69).
Drakeford’s seven-under-par 206 total is 10 shots better than Bruyns from Boland, who posted a 72 to take sole seventh on the 54-hole leaderboard.
After a strong second round surge, fellow South African CJ du Plessis carded a 74 to slip tie for 24th, effectively spoiling his chances to challenge for the title.
Drakeford and his team mate Jordan Zunic also combined for a third round 135 to take command of the International Team Competition, which is being played concurrently with the Individual Tournament.
The Australians, who lead on 423 strokes, are eight shots ahead of New Zealand, who also leapfrogged the Irish, relegating Reeve Whitson and Richard O’Donovan to third place.
Meanwhile Bruyns and Du Plessis continued their climb and took sole fourth after combining for 146. The South African pair are one stroke clear of hosts Argentina.
Following the conclusion of the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup, Bruyns and Du Plessis will tee it up in the 117th Argentina Amateur Championship at the Pilar Golf Club from 13-18 November.
The world ranking tournament comprises a 36-hole qualifier over two days, where after the leading sixty four players will go through to the match play stages to determine the amateur champion for 2012.
SOUTH AFRICAN INDIVIDUAL SCORES
206 Geoff Drakeford (AUS) 71-69-66 (leader)
216 Dirkus Bruyns 69-75-72
222 CJ du Plessis 75-73-74
TEAM LEADERBOARD
423 Australia 144-144-135
431 New Zealand 142-145-144
433 Ireland 139-143-151
438 South Africa 144-148-146