Richard Sterne’s three-under 69 on Saturday moved him inside the top 10 of the DP World Tour’s Cazoo Classic at Hillside Golf Club in Southport, England, putting him in line for the best finish of his season.
The 40-year-old Sterne has missed five cuts in his last seven tournaments, but was a steady performance with five birdies and two bogeys from the 2008 South African Open champion to put him in a share of eighth heading into the final round – and on course to go better than his fifth-place finish in March in the MyGolfLife Open at Pecanwood.
At nine-under for the tournament after 54 holes, Sterne was three shots off the lead which was held by Frenchman Julien Guerrier, who is looking for a maiden DP World Tour title. Guerrier led by one from another South African open champion, Richie Ramsay of Scotland, who won in 2009. Also in second on 11-under were Jens Dantorp of Sweden and England’s Paul Waring.
Darren Fichardt was on five-under in a share of 24th after a third-round level-par 72. JC Ritchie signed for a one-under 71 to move to three-under for the tournament and a share of 34th. Zander Lombard moved under par for the tournament at one-under after a third-round 71, Oliver Bekker moved to two-over with his two-over 74 and Wilco Nienaber battled to a five-over 77 to be in 69th on four-over.