Bad light stops play in South Africa

with leader Pappas still to finish

Martin Maritz played his second bogey-free round at the Gary Player Country Club today to move into sole possession of second in the Dimension Data Pro-Am.
With leader Deane Pappas having to stop play because of bad light with just 15 holes completed, Maritz’s four-under 68 took him to 10-under 206, six shots off Pappas’ pace.
“If you had told me at the start of the tournament that I would be 10-under after three rounds, I would have taken it,” said Maritz. “Even if I finish up second, I will be very pleased.”
He went to bed knowing he would have to charge hard tomorrow to catch Pappas: “He is a very experienced player, and I’m sure with his years on the PGA Tour, he is used to rough like this, and he will be difficult to catch,” he said. “I’m going to give it my best shot,” he added.
Pappas played steady golf in defence of his five-shot halfway lead: pars all the way round were punctuated by an eagle on the fifth and a birdie on the 10th. With his lead at six strokes, he doesn’t have to take any risks.
Defending champion James Kamte celebrated a birdie putt on the 18th as if he had won the tournament, having endured a roller-coaster of a round that featured five birdies and three bogeys. His two-under 70 lifted him into a share of fourth behind Pappas, Maritz, and Pappas’ playing partner Darren Fichardt.
Fichardt had a double-bogey six on the ninth which put a spike in his round, and he was even-par for the round when he and Pappas came off before teeing off on the 16th.
Jake Roos shot a six-under-par 66 record the best early round as dangerous weather interrupted for the third time in as many days. His round included two bogeys, and lifted him to seven-under for the tournament, nine behind Pappas.
Pappas and his amateur playing partner Murray Winckler, Laurium Capital director and the former squash star, were leading the better-ball competition with a total of 25-under
HOW THEY STAND (third round not completed)
16 under after 15 holes: D Pappas.
10 under after 18 holes: M Maritz.
8 under after 15 holes: D Fichardt.
7 under after 18 holes: J Roos.
7 under after 18 holes: J Kamte.
7 under after 18 holes: L Ndwandwe.
6 under after 18 holes: D Van der Walt, M Cayeux.
Selected score:
4 under after 15 holes: D Drysdale.