MBABANE, Swaziland (6 May 2017) – Home-grown hero Nobuhle Dlamini gave the local crowds a lot to cheer about when she closed the gap on Investec Royal Swazi Open leader Ashleigh Buhai in Friday’s third round at the Royal Swazi Spa Country Club in Swaziland.

Dlamini fired a five-under-par 67 that featured a trio of birdies at the first three holes and further gains at seven, 12, 17 and 18.

The seven birdies was worth 14 points in the unique Modified Scoring event. After deducting two points for back-to-back bogeys at four and five, the Swazi golfer pocketed 12 points that rocketed her to second on the leaderboard.

The big-hitting Dlamini, who is still chasing a maiden win on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, will start the final push today just two points behind Buhai.

The 2017 Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies champion picked up one point in the first round to take the lead, added three in the second to stay in front and a four under 68 worth nine points from five birdies and a lone bogey kept the 27-year-old Edenvale golfer firmly in the driver’s seat with 13 points on Friday.

It certainly looks as if the chase for the R40 000 first prize will come down to a battle of wills between Buhai and Dlamini with the rest of the field virtually out of contention.

Investec Property player Stacy Bregman is a distant third on four points after earning just three points in round three and Dimension Data Ladies Challenge winner Nicole Garcia is fourth on three points after scoring five points on Friday.

Namibian Bonita Bredenhann carded a 70 to move to fifth on two points, while Bertine Strauss hugs the bottom of the leaderboard at minus 17.