Sunshine Tour
Brandon Moyo
A sensational bogey-free nine-under-par 62 from Samuel Simpson has seen him take a five-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard following the conclusion of the third round of the Mediclinic Invitational at Heron Banks Golf and River Estate in South Africa.
Simpson, who is now on 18-under-par 195 with 18 holes left to play, said his performance on moving day was a result of staying calm. “Today was really good. I definitely wasn’t pushing for the score, it’s just a result of me feeling pretty calm out there and enjoying being at the top of the leaderboard. Being on Tour for the last three or four years now, I definitely feel more comfortable in that position and am back to how I was feeling as an amateur golfer,” he said (via Sunshine Tour). He added that his maiden Sunshine Tour win in Zambia last year has helped him, and that he is happy with the freedom he has been playing with this week. “I had a great amateur career, but I feel like I have been holding back a bit. I am now just letting it go and playing golf. The win in Zambia has really helped me getting into the bigger events and being exposed to some of the great players, and learning as much as I can along the way. This week I am just playing with a lot of freedom and the score is just a result of that,” he said. Simpson is looking forward to what the final round has to offer. “I am looking forward to it. There will be different feelings and emotions as to what I have experienced before being in the lead by that much, but the goal is to just play with freedom. I would love to extend that lead and will play how I want to play. If that puts me at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the round, then I will be happy. I will hopefully be lifting the trophy at the end,” he said (via Sunshine Tour). Simpson started moving day with back-to-back birdies at the first and second holes, followed by another at the ninth for an outward 33. After the turn, he added further birdies at the 10th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th for a sizzling inward 29. Travis Proctor, Jaco Prinsloo, Keagan Thomas and Austin Bautista share third place on 14-under-par 200.
The Mediclinic Invitational is the Sunshine Tour’s season-opening tournament.