FILE PICTURE: Adilson Da Silva. Picture: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images.
“I was happy with my score today, especially playing The Links. We couldn’t choose a better day to play than this one, so we were very fortunate with the weather,” Da Silva said.
“The conditions are perfect at all three courses, especially with the amount of rain they’ve received in the last few weeks. I like the layout of Montagu, but you still have to hit good shots, so tomorrow should be challenging, but it should also be fun.”
The Brazilian who lives in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal had made one bogey in 54 holes and on Saturday carded a flawless 70 that left him two clear of Jean Hugo and Trevor Fisher Jnr.
“I’ve got a local caddie and we’ve been reading them pretty good.
“In the last two tournaments I’ve been hitting the ball so well, but my putting has been off. This week something feels much better and I’m confident for tomorrow.”
Hugo also tackled The Links in 70 blows on Saturday to bring up a three-way share of second on 12-under-par ahead of the cut.
The 14-time Sunshine Tour champion last won in August 2013 and will be raring to go on Sunday.
“I played solidly out there and I’m hitting it nicely, so I’m hopeful for tomorrow,” Hugo said.
“Anything can happen and I think Adilson is playing well, but with some good weather and low scoring it could be a fun day.”
Fisher parlayed a run of four consecutive birdies from the fourth to the seventh on Montagu into a five-under-par 67 to move into a share of second with Hugo. His fifth birdie of the day came at the 18th on a bogey-free day for him.
“It felt good, I got a bit of the rhythm going this week – it’s been on and off a bit lately,” Fisher said.
“It’s always tough to win, so I just want to have the same feeling tomorrow that I had today, and if I win, then I win.
“But I’m definitely going to be putting my head down and trying my best out there.”
South African Open champion Morten Orum Madsen of Denmark is the other player in a share of third, and he too got a run of four successive birdies going on Montagu.
His came from the 14th to the 17th, but he spoiled things somewhat when he dumped his approach on 18 into the water and took a bogey-six there.
Three other birdies on his card saw him sign for a 66 and a climb of five paces on the leaderboard into contention.
Sapa
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