SA slip at Eisenhower in Japan
The South African team dropped out of the top 40 in the third round of the Eisenhower Trophy at the biennial World Amateur Team Championship in Japan on Friday.
The local trio failed to score on the easy nine of the Oshitate Course and came away with a three-over-par 145 that saw them slip from joint 36th to a tie for 42nd on three-over-par 431 with Guatemala, Hong Kong and Bermuda.
Zander Lombard erased three bogeys with three birdies to anchor the side with an even-par 71.
Fellow Pretoria amateur Jason Smith reeled in birdies at the 10th, 13th and 18th, but had four bogeys and a double bogey at the par-three 17th for a 74.
Western Province’s Roux birdied the par-five 13th but dropped seven shots to post a non-counting 77.
National coach Llewellyn van Leeuwen said the team was frustrated with their performance.
“We are very disappointment that we failed to take advantage of the scoring nine at the Oshitate Course,” the TuksGolf Club and Academy head coach and technical director said.
“We are heading to the practice range now to do some serious work ahead of the final round.
“With just the one round left to go, we have nothing to lose now. Hopefully we can redeem ourselves with a solid performance on Saturday.”
Meanwhile Bryson DeChambeu definitely got the measure of the par-71 Robert Trent Jones II designed layout.
The American fired a record-setting 10-under-par 61 and combined with Denny McCarthy, who added a 67, for a third round 128.
The defending champions not only assumed pole position at 31-under-par 397, but also bettered the lowest 54-hole record by seven strokes. The previous record was 404, set by the USA in 2012. Their third-round total also set a new record for any round since the USA set the mark at 131 in the first round of 2012 Eisenhower Trophy.
The United States hold a three stroke lead over Sweden, while Canada and Spain are tied on 403.
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Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.