At the Joburg Open, the stage is set for a dramatic finish as Shaun Norris charges into Sunday’s final round with a four-stroke lead—a tantalising prospect for his chase of a third DP World Tour title and his second in under three months.
Playing at Houghton Golf Club, Norris danced through tricky pin placements in the third round, carding a slick 67 that lifts him to an overall 14 under par.
Trailing him are fellow South African Jacques Kruyswijk and Frenchman Adrien Saddier, both sitting at 10 under par.
Kruyswijk—no stranger to high-pressure finishes after a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Joburg Open and a maiden title at February’s Magical Kenya Open—managed a 68, while Saddier settled for a 70.
Despite battling an ear infection that’s been a persistent nuisance all week, Norris has maintained his focus on the links.
“The ear is still blocked and I can’t hear out of it. It was a little bit sore but the doctor has given me some good pain pills.
It hasn’t been bothering me on the golf course. But when my brother (his caddie) is on my left-hand side I can’t hear a thing he says to me,” he said.
Undeterred, he added, “But I hit the ball nicely and gave myself some good chances.
Overall I can’t complain about the round. There were some bad shots here and there, but that’s golf. It’s more about how you handle the rest of the round.”
With the final round fast approaching, Norris isn’t content with a cautious strategy.
“It’s nice to lead by four, but I want to win by 10 shots. So I’ll just keep going and change nothing,” he declared. Kruyswijk, clearly relishing the challenge of chasing a leader, remarked,
“I love chasing a leader. It’s why I play this game. I’m looking forward to a nice battle in the final round.
Shaun’s playing some really good golf and it will take a lot to beat him.”
Meanwhile, Saddier is banking on a few early putts to apply pressure: “If that happens, I can put a bit of pressure on the leader and I can have a good day.”
For those eager to witness the unfolding drama at the Joburg Open, tickets are available at Sunshine Tour Tickets.
