AICHI-PREFECTURE, Japan (18 June 2015) – 
Marco Steyn dipped into red numbers for the first time at Chukyo Golf Club to help keep South Africa in the mix, while international debutant Natasha Carlsson exacted revenge on the tough seventh hole and add to the girls team tally in the third round of the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Aichi-Prefecture, Japan on Thursday.
Sweden replaced defending champion Norway at the top of the standings in the Boys Competition and lead the way on 16-under-par 623 after combining for a third round 206. The Swedes lead by four strokes from Japan and Norway.
After a disappointing second round 217, the South African team rallied with 211 and took sole ownership of eighth place on one under 638.
Having carded earlier rounds of 80 and 77, Steyn came to grips with the challenging layout of the Ishino Course and returned a one-under-par 70.
Fellow Central Gauteng junior Dylan Naidoo also carded a 70, Herman Loubser from Boland returned a 71, while Gauteng North’s Keegan de Lange registered a non-counting 75.
“We played in a light rain again and, at times, the gusting breeze made tough holes even more challenging,” said TuksSport Golf Club and Academies head coach Llewellyn van Leeuwen.
“Marco was burning the edges all day, but played really well. He erased a lone bogey on four with a two-putt birdie on 15 and made another birdie at 17.
“Dylan was also solid, but made soft bogeys at the third and ninth. He hit back with gains at 10, 12 and 17. Herman was in prime position once again. He was one under playing the 15th, but a slow finish saw him finish even-par.
“Keegan was really unlucky at 15 and lost a ball with almost no rough to speak of. The team want to improve their standing, but they know they need to start really well tomorrow to have any chance going into tough back nine.”
Japan combined for 145 and continued to dominate the Girls Competition on 13-under-par 419. The defending champions will carry an 11 stroke lead over Korea into the final round.
South Africa’s top ranked Ivanna Samu carded a non-counting 77, while fellow Gauteng juniors Kaleigh Telfer and Carlsson both registered 76s.
“Ivanna made some uncharacteristic mistakes and only made one birdie, while Kaleigh, who is still battling with flu, managed two birdies in her round,” said Womens Golf South Africa president Karen Olivant.
“We were all thrilled for Natasha, who conquered her nemesis hole with a birdie after a double in the first round and bogey in the second.”
BOYS TEAM STANDINGS
623 (-16) Sweden 206-211-206
627 (-12) Japan 206-210-211; Norway 211-202-214
628 (-11) Canada 210-214-204; Korea 210-209-209
630 (-9) United States 208-213-209
637 (-2) Chile 212-208-217
638 (-1) South Africa 210-217-211
642 (+3) Mexico 217-210-215
644 (+5) New Zealand 216-213-215
645 (+6) China 215-217-213; Scotland 217-217-211
648 (+9) Italy 215-217-216
651 (+12) Brazil 218-219-214
656 (+17) Zimbabwe 220-218-218
BOYS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (top 5)
205 (-8) Joaquin Niemann CHL 67-66-72
206 (-7) Ren Okazaki JAP 67-68-71; Marcus Svensson SWE 68-71-67
207 (-6) Etienne Papineau CAN 70-69-68; Chandler Phillips USA 68-70-69; Kristoffer Reitan NOR 70-68-69; Tim Widing SWE 67-71-69
211 (-2) Dylan Naidoo RSA 70 71 70
212 (-1) Herman Loubser RSA 71 70 71
220 (+7) Keegan de Lange RSA 69 76 75
227 (+14) Marco Steyn RSA 80 77 70
GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS
419 (-13) Japan 140-134-145
430 (-2) Korea 143-145-142
441 (+9) France 146-146-149; Mexico 152-146-143; United States 147-143-151
444 (+12) Colombia 146-146-152
446 (+14) New Zealand 149-148-149
449 (+17) South Africa 146-151-152
GIRLS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (top 5)
209 (-7) Yumi Matsubara JAP 68-67-74
214 (-2) Minami Hiruta JAP 72-70-72
215 (-1) Jo Hyunkyung KOR 71-73-71
216 (Even) Hina Arakaki JAP 76-67-73
217 (+1) Lee Subin KOR 74-72-71
224 (+8) Ivanna Samu RSA 74 73 77
226 (+10) Kaleigh Telfer RSA 72 78 76
230 (+14) Natasha Carlsson RSA 76 78 76
PHOTO – Gauteng North’s Keegan de Lange; credit WJGTC
Daily draws and scores available at http://www.wjgtc.org/english/score/index.html