DONALDSON STAYS THREE CLEAR AT SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA

NEDBANK CHALLENGE REPORT

FROM MICHAEL GIBBONS

European Tour Staff

Jamie Donaldson continued his stunning performance at the Nedbank Golf Challenge to maintain his three stroke lead and set up a US$1.25 million pay day going into Sunday's final round at the Gary Player Country Club. 

The Welshman is looking to become the first rookie winner of the event for 28 years (the last being Mark McNulty in 1986) and should he continue his form of the first three rounds will be difficult man to catch.

His third round of five under 67, for a 16 under total, saw him stay three clear of Denmark’s Thomas Björn (66) and American Ryan Moore (67), with Henrik Stenson (69) a further shot back alongside Sergio Garcia (66) and Thongchai Jaidee (66). 

“It would be very special to win here,” said Donaldson. “It’s a great golf course and a great country. It’s a great resort and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing here. To win here, against such a high quality field would be up there. I’ve won twice on The European Tour so far, and while every win is special, this would just be a little more special.

“This is a really difficult field, it’s one of the best fields in the world so a three shot lead against these guys doesn’t really mean much. You’ve got to go out there and play really good golf – that’s what I’ll be aiming to do tomorrow.” 

Donaldson may not be the biggest name in the field, but he is among the most talented. No one knows that more than Björn, who knows he has to play great golf and hope that Donaldson has an off-day if he is to take home that $1.25 million top prize.

“It is going to be one of those days when you have to go out there and try to shoot 66 or 67 and then see what Jamie does,” said the Dane. “This is not a golf course where you can go out early and chase him down because it can get away from you so quickly if you do that. 

“If you are too aggressive too early you can play yourself out of the tournament. And you just never know in golf. His lead could be gone in the space of a couple of holes but at the same time he could be six clear in the same space of time so I just have to try and plod along and take my chances and see what he does.

“The other thing is that Jamie is a wonderful player now. He has really come of age over the last few years and that is the talent that he has. He has suffered from a lot of back problems in his career but he has come of age and realised he can compete with the best in the world and he has taken a lot of confidence from that.”

 THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

200 J Donaldson (Wal) 67 66 67

203 T Björn (Den) 67 70 66, R Moore  (USA) 71 65 67

205 H Stenson (Swe) 69 67 69, S Garcia  (Esp) 66 73 66, T Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 66

207 B De Jonge (Zim) 70 68 69

208 D Points (USA) 71 67 70, D Fichardt (RSA) 71 68 69,

209 P Uihlein  (USA) 70 69 70, C Schwartzel  (RSA) 68 70 71, J Rose (Eng) 73 67 69

210 L Oosthuizen  (RSA) 74 69 67

211 G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp) 67 72 72, M Kaymer (Ger) 71 66 74

213 L Donald  (Eng) 68 71 74

215 F Molinari (Ita) 76 70 69, B Grace  (RSA) 75 71 69, M Madsen  (Den) 76 71 68

216 V Dubuisson  (Fra) 73 72 71

217 J Luiten (Ned) 74 68 75, T Wiratchant (Tha) 71 76 70, R Sterne  (RSA) 73 73 71

218 M Manassero (Ita) 72 74 72

219 D Lynn (Eng) 73 71 75

222 D Van Der Walt (RSA) 77 72 73, G Woodland (USA) 74 73 75

223 K Streelman (USA) 75 71 77, E Els (RSA) 75 71 77, P Senior (Aus) 80 68 75