Dean Burmester of the Southern Guards plays an approach shot during the third round of LIV Golf Hong Kong on Saturday. The South African currently trails the leaders by two shots following a bogey-free third round.
Image: LIV GOLF
A string of missed birdie opportunities made for a frustrating third round for Dean Burmester at LIV Golf Hong Kong on Saturday, but the South African remains firmly in the hunt for the title heading into the final round.
The Southern Guards golfer carded a bogey-free one-under-par round to sit tied for fourth on -15, just two shots off the lead with 18 holes remaining.
Burmester endured a difficult day on the greens, missing several birdie putts that could have seen him take control of the tournament. Time and again, he gave himself chances, only for the ball to roll past the hole as he struggled to find his rhythm with the putter.
“Obviously, I am gutted, I don’t think I did much wrong to be honest, maybe I tried too hard,” Burmester said following his third round.
“I hit some amazing golf shots out there, and I hit simple ones, probably on the wrong holes. I went bogey-free, but just didn’t make any putts. I will have to find a way to lift myself on Sunday and give it a go.”
Despite the frustrations of not making the putts he set himself up for excellently at times, Burmester managed to keep mistakes off his card. A steady stream of pars ensured he stayed within touching distance of the leaders in what remains a tightly contested leaderboard heading into Sunday’s final round.
After sharing the overnight lead with Carlos Ortiz of Torque GC, both players lost the lead to Jon Rahm (Legion XIII), Thomas Detry (4Aces) and Harold Varner III (Smash), who surged ahead during the third round.
“It felt like they had much better days than I did, because I didn’t make birdies. I know Carlos, and I ended on the same score, which sucks. I hit one birdie all day, and you are not going to win tournaments doing that. At least they are making birdies.”
The back nine proved particularly frustrating for Burmester as several promising birdie chances slipped by. On more than one occasion, he left himself lengthy putts, narrowly missing the line or coming up short to tap it in to stay even par. However, the South African showed composure when it mattered most, producing a crucial par save from off the green on the penultimate hole to keep himself firmly in contention.
His fellow Southern Guards also delivered encouraging performances. Branden Grace finished the round three-under-par, while captain Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel both carded rounds of five-under.
Those efforts helped Southern Guards remain in the hunt in the team competition. The side sits four shots behind Smash, who leads the standings on 44-under-par, with the South Africans on -40 heading into the final round.
With everything still to play for, Burmester will head into Sunday knowing a strong finish could still secure the individual title. At the same time, a combined push from the team could also deliver Southern Guards their first victory.
The result takes on added significance, with just one more event in Singapore next weekend before LIV Golf makes its South African debut at Steyn City in Johannesburg on 19 March.