Charl Schwartzel Clings to Lead at Dunhill Championship

Charl Schwartzel is in control at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

After going winless in 2015, Charl Schwartzel is just 18 holes away from starting his new season with a bang. After posting a third round of 70, the South African is three strokes clear of the rest of the field at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. If he keeps it up, he’ll be hoisting his tenth career European Tour trophy by tomorrow afternoon.

A three-time champ at Leopard Creek Country Club, it’s no surprise that Schwartzel has been having his way this week, and it was more of the same today. After stumbling out of the gate with an opening bogey, the 31-year-old was steady. He circled birdies on six and seven to get to one-under for his round, but for the next nine holes, it was all pars for Schwartzel. While he struggled at times, his scrambling ability was on full display. After birdieing 17 and finishing up from there, he was finally able to sign for a two-under round.

Speaking after his round, Schwartzel was critical of his performance yet generally optimistic. “If I can have some bad rounds still under par, out of my experience, that’s how you compete in tournaments and even win tournaments,” he said.

The real story of the day was that of European Tour rookie Sebastien Gros. The second place finisher on the Challenge Tour money list in 2015, the Frenchman shot a sparking, bogey-free 63 in just his seventh career round on Europe’s top circuit. Circling birdies on exactly half of the holes, Gros rocketed from a tie for 39th to a tie for second and even tied for the lead at one point, so Schwartzel will need to watch his back tomorrow.

It was easily the best round of the day. South Africans Branden Grace and Dylan Frittelli came the closest to matching it with their scores of 66.

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France’s Benjamin Hebert is also in a tie for second, exactly where he was at the start of the day. He was rock-solid on the back nine, but a pair of bogeys around the turn doomed his chances of seizing the lead. Ultimately, Hebert finished with a 68, good enough to trim Schwartzel’s lead by two strokes.

Frittelli is alone in fourth place, five strokes behind Schwartzel. Joost Luiten, David Drysdale, Gregory Bourdy and Lasse Jensen are tied for fifth at seven-under. Grace, Matt Ford and Thomas Linard are tied for ninth, rounding out the top 10.

Grace, the defending champion, did well to get himself back into the thick of it after a disappointing first half of the week. A bogey on three negated an early birdie on two, but the 27-year-old sizzled the rest of the way, circling six more red numbers.

Sweden’s Niclas Fasth, playing in his 500th European Tour event, signed for a three-under 69, good enough to work his way into the top 15. However, bogeys on seven and 13 probably ruined his chances of a victory in the milestone start.

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The stage is set for tomorrow: a former major champion and three-time winner at Leopard Creek against the rookie who lit up the course for a 63. Then there’s Hebert, who’s in a good position to notch his first European Tour victory. Whatever happens tomorrow, the season opener should feature a thrilling finish.

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