MALELANE (South Africa), Feb 16: Justin Rose lost further ground in his bid to clinch the Sunshine Tour’s order of merit title after he could only manage a third-round 71 in the season-ending Tour Championship on Saturday.

The Englishman produced a roller-coaster display of six birdies, three dropped shots and a double-bogey five at the short seventh to end the day in a share of 16th place at two-under-par 214.

That left him 10 shots behind money list leader Tim Clark of South Africa, whose impressive 67 lifted him into second place on 12-under 204 going into Sunday’s final round.

Rookie South African professional Nicholas Lawrence, one off the lead overnight, was a stroke ahead of Clark on 203 after scores of 68, 68 and 67.

Experienced American and big game hunter Bruce Vaughan, tournament leader at the halfway stage, slipped back into third following a one-under-par 71 on Saturday.

Rose, who has won twice on this year’s Sunshine Tour, got off to a promising start in soaring temperatures at Leopard Creek Country Club with birdies at the first and third to get to three under par overall.

But he dropped his first shot of the day at the fourth, double-bogeyed the seventh and then offset a birdie-three at the eighth with another drop at the ninth to turn in one-over 36.

He produced steadier golf on the back nine, with three birdies and a solitary bogey at the 192-yard 12th, but his bid for the order of merit crown is now all but buried, given his 10-shot deficit behind Clark.

South African Open champion Clark, who mixed seven birdies with two bogeys on the day, is now poised to clinch an automatic invitation to this year’s British Open at Muirfield as the Sunshine Tour’s money list winner for 2001-2002.

Third round scores:

203 Nicholas Lawrence 68 68 67

204 Tim Clark 69 68 67

206 Bruce Vaughan (U.S.) 67 68 71

207 Andrew McLardy 71 67 69

208 Nic Henning 66 71 71

209 Lee Slattery (Britain) 67 75 67

210 Hennie Otto 69 70 71

212 Scott Drummond (Britain) 71 70 71, Mark Murless 70 70 72, Chris Williams (Britain) 70 70 72, Doug McGuigan (Britain) 66 72 74

213 Des Terblanche 72 73 68, Martin Maritz 73 72 68, Bradford Vaughan 65 77 71, Dean van Staden 72 68 73

214 Trevor Immelman 67 76 71, Justin Rose (Britain) 69 74 71 Steve van Vuuren 72 71 71, Roger Wessels 74 69 71, Sean Pappas 68 71 75, Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe) 70 69 75 Michael Green 68 69 77

215 Jaco Van Zyl 74 75 66—Reuters