Adrian Meronk retains narrow lead at Alfred Dunhill Championship
Adrian Meronk leads the Alfred Dunhill Championship after posting a one-under 71 at Leopard Creek, with Meronk chasing a maiden European Tour victory - watch the final round live on Sunday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf
By Ali Stafford
Last Updated: 29/11/20 11:58am
2:30
Adrian Meronk recovered from a slow start to hold onto a one-shot advantage heading into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
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The world No 261, looking to become the first Polish winner on the European Tour, bounced back from two bogeys in his first four holes to post a one-under 71 at Leopard Creek Country Club.
Meronk's closest challenge comes from South Africa's Jayden Schaper, who closed out a second successive 67 with back-to-back birdies to get to 13 under, with Christiaan Bezuidenhout - the highest-ranked player in the field - three strokes back in third spot.
Sean Crocker and Adri Arnaus are four off the pace on 10 under, while last week's Joburg Open winner Joachim B Hansen slipped five behind despite leading for several holes during the third round.
Meronk took a three-shot advantage into the weekend but saw that lead disappear in the space of three holes after bogeying the third, as playing partner Hansen opened with back-to-back birdies.
Hansen grabbed the outright lead when Meronk bogeyed the fourth and temporarily went two ahead with a tap-in birdie at the sixth, only for the Dane to fail to get up and down from off the green to save par at the eighth.
Meronk started his back-nine with successive birdies and retained top spot when Hansen racked up a quadruple-bogey at the 11th after finding the trees and then three-putting, before holing from close range at the par-five 13th to get to 14 under.
Bezuidenhout birdied five of his last eight holes to move within three of the lead and Schaper made a late charge by following an eagle-three at the 15th with two closing birdies, as Meronk closed out his round with five straight pars to retain a narrow lead.
Hansen also parred his way home to sit on nine under alongside Scotland's Calum Hill, who birdied three of his last four holes, with England's Richard Bland a further shot back with Julian Suri.
Who will win the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship? Watch the final round live on Sunday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf.
