Full throttle for Freddie Tait Cup as Kruger retains pole position

28 March 2026 – When Dian Kruger tried to put pedal to the metal in the third round of the Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club on Saturday, he couldn’t quite pull away from the field, signing for a two-over-par 72.

Kruger spends his spare hours racing a Mercedes at Zwartkops Raceway, though his favourite place to lap the field is on the golf course. Moving day was more speed wobble than surge though, but the 19-year-old held his position on the grid as the three remaining amateurs prepare for one final charge at the Freddie Tait Cup for leading amateur honours.

“It was a struggle out there,” he admitted. “I didn’t hit the ball very well. I struggled a bit on the greens as well. I just didn’t really get it going today.”

His 54-hole total of level-par 210 gives him a two-shot edge over fellow Centurion Country Club member Charl Barnard heading into Sunday’s final sprint, but Kruger insists his focus remains unchanged.

“It felt like the first two rounds, honestly. I didn’t really worry much about the amateur side of it. Just tried to play the best golf I can. Today didn’t go to plan.

“I think tomorrow is going to be one of those rounds where it’s either 63 or 85. We’re going to go at everything with the Freddie Tait Cup on the line. But I’m not going to change much about my approach.”

Barnard, who also signed for a level-par 72, is planning an audacious overtaking manoeuvre.

“I think I can just go for it,” he said. “I’ve got nothing to lose now. Just try and go low.”

But he’ll need to find more fairways to do so. “I was kind of everywhere off the tee today. Probably only hit two fairways, but I made a few good saves. I started with a birdie, which was good, but as the round went on, I hit it more and more skew. It was tough to score. There was less wind today, which I didn’t capitalise on.”

His overnight pit stop offers reset time. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

Logan Leisher handed himself the golfing equivalent of a drive-through penalty with a four-over-par 74, but at five-under for the championship, he remains very much in the hunt.

“I’m really proud and really happy with my performance, especially yesterday,” he said. “It’s an honour to be playing here this weekend; very special.

“Today was a tough scoring day. I hit the ball pretty solid but I didn’t get a good number out there. My scorecard didn’t really reflect the good golf I played, but I’m still happy with my game and looking forward to tomorrow.”

Patience will be key.

“Probably the best thing is just to stay patient. I didn’t do that too well today, but I’ve learned over the last 12 months to stay patient, especially when putts aren’t dropping or scores aren’t going your way. I’m hoping it all pieces together tomorrow and I can put a really good score out there.”

Up front, South Africa’s newest international winner, Casey Jarvis, led the championship at 11-under after a bogey-free six-under-par 64.

A former Freddie Tait Cup winner now has his sights set on the ultimate silverware in South Africa’s national open, and he will take a one-shot advantage over countryman Hennie du Plessis and Italy’s Francesco Laporta into the final round.

Du Plessis backed up his course-record 63 in the second round with a 67, while Laporta grinded out a level-par 70. Reigning Joburg Open champion Calum Hill from Scotland fired a 65 to sit in fourth on eight-under. Kieron van Wyk matched Jarvis with a 64 and vaulted to joint fifth on seven-under to join Xander Basson and England’s Nathan Kimsey, who carded rounds of 66 and 72 respectively.