Flag for GER
BMW International Open
Round 3 Tee Times Available
News All Articles
Louis Oosthuizen back on top in Mauritius
Report

Louis Oosthuizen back on top in Mauritius

Louis Oosthuizen moved himself into pole position to make it back-to-back wins on the DP World Tour with a third-round 65 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

Video Player is loading.
    Current Time 0:00
    Duration 0:00
    Loaded: 0%
    Stream Type LIVE
    Remaining Time 0:00
     
    1x
      • Chapters
      • descriptions off, selected
      • captions off, selected

        The South African lifted the trophy last time out at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and five days later opened up a one-shot lead as he moved to 14 under at La Réserve Golf Links at Heritage Golf Club.

        Countryman Jacques P de Villiers was the nearest challenger after firing a 68, two shots clear of England's Laurie Canter, who carded a 65 to get to 11 under.

        South Africans Jaco Prinsloo and Jayden Schaper were then four shots off the lead.

        Oosthuizen - who helped design this week's layout alongside Peter Matkovich - made three eagles in his round to go with four birdies and two bogeys.

        "I think that was the first time I ever did three eagles in one round and I missed a short putt for eagle on eight," he said.

        "I played really well, I got very lucky on number 12 finding my ball and then made a big putt for birdie, but all in all just played well.

        "I was giving myself opportunities and I still feel like I'm rolling the ball good on the green so hopefully I can do the same tomorrow.

        "I'm playing well so it's all going to be on how I manage myself and think process around this golf course.

        "It's nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time to come here as the co-designer but Peter has done a phenomenal job."

        Video Player is loading.
          Current Time 0:00
          Duration 0:00
          Loaded: 0%
          Stream Type LIVE
          Remaining Time 0:00
           
          1x
            • Chapters
            • descriptions off, selected
            • captions off, selected

              Oosthuizen started the day three shots off the lead but was quickly on the move, making birdies on the second and third.

              A bogey followed on the fourth but he then made back-to-back eagles as he put his second at the par-five fifth inside ten feet and then chipped in on the driveable par-four sixth.

              He almost eagled the par-five eighth but had to settle for a birdie after missing his five-footer and a bogey on the next meant he had company at the top in the shape of De Villiers.

              Incredibly, the 33-year-old started bogey-bogey but a tee-shot to seven feet on the par-three fourth got him going and he took advantage of the next before holing a putt from off the green on the sixth for an eagle.

              Another fine tee-shot to six feet at the seventh had him in a share and he then got up and down on the next to lead alone.

              A slippery right-to-lefter on the 12th after a brilliant recovery from a ragged drive coupled with a De Villiers bogey on the 11th had Oosthuizen on top and better was to come when he made a third eagle of the day on the 15th.

              That long right-to-lefter up the hill had him three clear but his advantage was trimmed by a three-putt from the fringe on the 17th before De Villiers got up and down on the 18th for a closing birdie.

              Canter made a birdie on the fourth and then proceeded to take advantage of the gettable holes, picking up further gains on the par-five fifth, eighth, 12th and 15th, and driveable par-four sixth and 13th.

              Schaper started and finished his 67 with bogeys but picked up five birdies and an eagle in between, while Prinsloo had an eagle, six birdies, a bogey and a double in registering the same score.

              South Africans Pieter Moolman and Lyle Rowe carded rounds of 69 and 70 respectively to sit at nine under, a shot clear of countrymen Darren Fichardt and Dylan Naidoo, Germans Marcel Schneider and Marcel Siem and England's Paul Waring.

              Read next