Savage drops to T3, five shots off pace in 

African Championship after 3 rounds

Jamie Savage has a five-stroke leeway to make up if he is to win the African amateur championship at Leopard Creek Golf Club, Mpumalanga.
The Cawder man, tied for the lead at halfway, dropped down to a share of third place with a two-under-par 70 for eight-under 208. He had five birdies today but bogeyed the second, eighth and nine in 36 to the turn. Savage came home in 34 with birdies at the 10th, short 12th and long 18th to keep his hopes alive of catching South African leader Albert Venter who had a 65 for 13-under 203 to lead by three from England's Jamie Bower (68 for 206).
There are three other Scots in the top 10 with a round to go.
Jack McDonald, who had seven birdies in a 66 (31-35), and Craig Ross (70) are tied fifth on seven-under 209.
Conor Syme had a 70 for 213 and is tied 10th.
Calum Fyfe also had a 70 for 215 and a share of 16th position.
Grant Forrest and Sandy Scott are tied 20th on 217, both players scoring third-round 71s.
Scottish champion Bob MacIntyre slumped to a 78, which included a triple bogey 7 at the third, for 227 and joint 54th place.
Scott Gibson made the cut for the final round, thanks to a third-round 69, despite a double bogey 7 at the long 15th, and a 54-hole tally of 12-over 228. The cut fell at 15 over par.

AFRICAN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Leopard Creek Golf Club, Mpumalanga.
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
203 A Venter (SAf) 65 73 65
206 J Bower (Eng) 6672 68
SCOTS' SCORES
208 J Savage 71 67 70 (T3)
209 J McDonald  73 70 66, C Ross 66 73 70 (T5)
213 C Syme 73 70 70 (T10)
215 C Fyfe 75 70 70 (T16)
217 G Forrest 77 69 71, S Scott 76 70 71 (T20)
227 B MacIntyre 77 72 78 (T54)
228 S Gibson 86 73 69 (T57)