Exciting finale ahead as three share Big Easy lead at Observatory

The final round of the 10^th event of the Betway Big Easy Tour will be a guaranteed spectacle as no less than 10 players stand a real chance of claiming victory on Thursday.

This 54-hole event is the last tournament of the regular season before the season-ending Playoff which is to be held at Killarney Country Club in February and The Final which will be played at The Els, Copperleaf in March.

Leon Visser, Ulrich van den Berg and Musiwalo Nethunzwi will head into the final round in a three-way share of the lead at eight-under-par and two shots clear of the field. Visser – at the back of a level-par opening round – carded a blemish-free 64 on Wednesday to claim his spot among the leading three. Van den Berg shot 67 while Nethunzwi carded a 66 to get to eight-under for the week.

“Today I just hit very good off the tee and that helped me,” said Visser after his second round. “I had a lot of wedges in. I was all over the course yesterday and all I needed today was to hit it a little bit straighter. Luckily today I hit my driver really good and the putter kept working.

“I got off to a slow start and then I had a chip in on 14, I think. From there I just kept it clean. I’m very excited for tomorrow and I told my girlfriend that I just want to try and shoot a low one and have a chance tomorrow. I feel like the course suits me, so hopefully, I can just go out tomorrow and enjoy every moment.”

Five players – Thanda Mavundla, Ryan Van Der Klis, Toto Thimba Jnr, Ryan Tipping and Karabo Mokoena – are on a tournament total of six-under and trail by two strokes. They will be confident of their respective chances to claim victory here this week.

The top 50 players on the Order of Merit after this tournament will go on to play in The Playoff next month and then the top 30 from there will head to The Final at The Els Club Copperleaf in March.

The top 12 players on the final points standings will earn their Sunshine Tour cards for next season.