Becky Brewerton continues to lead the way at the Investec South African Women’s Open, with the Welsh star holding a five-shot advantage heading into the final day in Cape Town.
It wasn’t quite the birdie-fest that her second round produced, but in many ways, it was just as an impressive performance from the two-time Solheim Cup star, as she kept things steady up front while those behind her began to falter.
Related: Comeback girl Becky Brewerton scripts great turnaround
On a day when only one player shot below par – with Paz Marfa Sans firing 70 (-2) – a third round score of 74 (+2) was something of an achievement for the overnight leader on Day Three, with conditions lending themselves to a damage limitation exercise.
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And after a day battling against the swirling winds, Brewerton was delighted with her day’s efforts, as she remained head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
“I’m probably as pleased with today’s effort as I was with yesterday’s, which is quite weird to say considering there was an eight-shot difference in my score,” she revealed.
“It was brutal out there and I think it was just a day where everyone knew you were going to make mistakes and be in difficult positions, but you just had to try and minimise it, and I utilised the punch shot again very well.
“Today always looked like the weather was going to be quite bad, as tomorrow does as well – it’s exhausting but the best thing I did was to not try and brace against it but just go with it and hit the punch shot and keep the swing smooth If possible.
“The most difficult thing was putting, especially if you’re going across the breeze, because if you had the break going one way and the wind going the other it was quite hard to work out which one was going to have the most effect, so some of them were a bit hit-and-hope and they paid off the majority of the time.”
Brewerton managed to keep her shots out of harm’s way for the majority of the day in South Africa, with pars being the order of the day for many of her 18 holes, with the two dropped shots coming on eight and 14.
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For the most part though, it was conservative golf that saw her maintain her strong advantage heading into the final day, with the 39-year-old rolling back the years to leave herself on the brink of a memorable return to the winner’s circle.
The two-time Solheim Cup star has had a tricky time over the last few years, with the possibility of giving up the game luring into view after a tough time of it in 2021, as she finished 103rd on the Race to Costa del Sol.
But after turning things around at Q-School to earn her card for this year, Brewerton has rediscovered the sort of form that earned her the Order of Merit title in 2009, as she made light work of the blustery conditions around Steenberg Golf Club.
You have to go back 13 years for the last time Brewerton lifted silverware aloft on the LET, as she took victory at the Open De España Femenino, but with a strong advantage heading into the final day, she is relishing the challenge that awaits tomorrow.
“I don’t think I’ll have any problems going to sleep tonight, I’m exhausted, but tomorrow will just be another day of trying to keep the ball low. I fully expect the breeze to be just as strong, if not stronger tomorrow, so I’ll be mentally prepared tomorrow,” she continued.
“In those conditions you have to accept that things might go wrong, but you just have to try to keep the ball down and keep it in play as much as possible and try to leave yourself putts into the wind because they’re really tough on these greens.”
Brewerton’s nearest challenger is Maiken Bing Paulsen heading into the final round, with the Norwegian registering an admirable 73 (+1) on Friday, which keeps her in contention after 54 holes.
The 25-year-old, who began life on Tour in 2020, had a steady day in the windy conditions, and battled back from two dropped shots in her first three holes to keep herself in with a fighting chance in South Africa.
