Staff WriterKiera Floyd is set to dazzle at the South African Women’s Open as she gears up for Sunday’s final round, just two shots adrift of France’s Perrine Delacour.
In a tournament that has already delivered moments of magic and mischief, the South African Women’s Open is proving to be a spectacular stage for emerging talent.
At the Erinvale Country & Golf Estate, where capricious weather added its own twist—wind, rain, and even a fleeting burst of sunshine—Floyd produced a masterclass by birdieing the final hole for a sterling 69 and a total of 10 under par.
The stage is now perfectly set for the 20-year-old rising star to chase Delacour, who sits atop the leaderboard with a formidable 12 under par after a solid third round of 70.
It’s been a day that, if golf were a cabaret, would have been filled with unexpected turns and cheeky quips.
Floyd’s performance has not only captured the attention of fans across the country but also set the tone for a final round brimming with opportunity.
“It was tough out there. I took advantage on the front nine, and then on the back nine I just kept it in play as the back nine was playing the toughest,” she said.
That final flourish came courtesy of a stunning 20-foot birdie putt—a shot that practically shouted her intent to settle into second with style.
Floyd summed it up perfectly, saying, “I knew I needed to make that final birdie putt to sit comfortably in second.”
It was a bit of an up-and-down round, but that birdie putt on 18 just gave me a good bit of confidence for the final day.”
Floyd’s ascent on the tour has been marked by breakthrough victories, notably when she stunned the field at the Platinum Ladies Open in March with an incredible final round of 60.
“That 60 gave me a lot of confidence. To be able to shoot 60 to win my first professional title just showed me that I can do it out here.
It has built my confidence way more on the course and has made me feel so free on the course.
So it will be a bit of a battle in this final round, and Perrine is a good player. But I’m feeling confident,” she asserted, capturing the essence of a competitor who is ready to embrace every twist the game throws her way.
Across the green, Delacour remains unruffled despite the day’s challenges. “It was definitely hard.
It was windy and we had some rain as well. But it turned out well. Towards the end I was struggling to make birdies, but I just stayed patient and kept doing my thing. If the birdies come then great, but if not then par is good.
The first big tournament I won as an amateur was the Girls Amateur Championship in Britain, and it was raining and cold. So I’m just going to do my things and keep patient.
There is a lot of golf left and we’ll just see where it goes,” she remarked, exuding the calm determination of someone who has learnt to play with both the elements and her nerves.
As the final round of the South African Women’s Open looms, spectators are treated to an epic duel between tenacity and skill.
In a tournament that swings from the sublime to the utterly bonkers, this event is a living, breathing ode to golf’s wonderfully unpredictable nature.
It’s the kind of contest where the most unlikely heroes burst forth, leaving us all clinging to our seats like a firm grip on a pint.
Come Sunday’s showdown, every swing has the cheeky potential to carve Kiera Floyd’s name into the storied tapestry of South African golf—as unforgettable as a perfect pint on a perfect day.
