Playing on Schoeman Park, Smith opened with two consecutive birdies, made three more by the time he reached the seventh, and then turned in 29 thanks to an eagle on nine. Three more birdies on his way home saw him go one better than the 63 he carded in the second round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf event at Vaal de Grace on September 9.

“It feel pretty much like I was daydreaming out there,” he said. “Today I just kept it in play off the tee and then hit every green. I only missed one green today. That helps, but also I hit it pretty close. So the ball-striking was there today, and after a couple of early putts rolled in, I kind of visualised my putts to be a little bit easier. It felt like I could make every putt. And then I just decided to see what happened on the back nine.”

His form clearly fired up his playing partners too: Zimbabwe’s Greg Bentley signed for a five-under 67 with an eagle, six birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey, while amateur Louis Taylor stormed home in 66 with two eagles, four birdies and two bogeys.

Smith’s blitz saw him finish the day two shots ahead of Bryandrew Roelofsz, who also played at Schoeman Park, and his six-under 66 had an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys in it.

“It just happened and without the wind this morning, it helped a lot,” said Smith. “Coming off the 72 yesterday I thought it wasn’t that great a round, but maybe it was actually not that bad considering the conditions. So to come out this morning before the wind picked up and get a low round will settle the nerves a little bit.”

He finished in 130th spot on the 2015 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, so that brought him to Qualifying School in an attempt to regain his playing privileges. And that experience has helped him to keep calm during the early stages of what is a 90-hole marathon.

“You can’t force things. You’ve just got to be patient out there and wait. If you’re going along at one-under, level, two-under, I’m sure that on one of the five days you’re going to get a good round,” he said.

“I was just trying to be as consistent as possible – keep it as simple as possible – and just hit the fairways and hit the greens. I’ve been here more than once, so you get familiar with the golf course. You’ve got to learn from your mistakes and go from there. And when the putts roll in, it’s your day,” he added.

Also taking advantage of the good scoring conditions at Schoeman Park was Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who carded a seven-under-par 65 to go eight-under for the tournament, seven shots off Smith’s lead just one round ahead of the 72-hole cut to the top 60 players and ties.

In such a long and gruelling tournament, it’s about playing the waiting game and striking when you get the opportunity. Like Bezuidenhout, Smith understood that during the third round. “It’s up to you how patient you’re willing to be,” said Smith. “Today just seemed to be that day.”

Scores:

201 - Stuart Smith (BOT) 67 72 62

203 - Bryandrew Roelofsz (RSA) 69 68 66

207 - Greg Bentley (ZIM) 68 72 67, Jack Harrison (ENG) 68 73 66, Andre de Decker (RSA) 68 68 71

208 - Louis Taylor (AMA) (RSA) 72 70 66, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 72 71 65

209 - Dayne Moore (ZAM) 73 67 69, Martin Rominger (SUI) 72 68 69, Michael Palmer (RSA) 65 72 72, Brett Liddle (RSA) 70 70 69

210 - Irvin Mazibuko (RSA) 73 67 70, Burger Heckroodt (RSA) 67 74 69, Antonio Rosado (POR) 65 71 74, Johnny Evans (ENG) 67 69 74, Ruan Pretorius (AMA) (RSA) 71 70 69

211 - Zachary Portemont (USA) 70 71 70, Bryn Flanagan (RSA) 72 70 69, Altin van der Merwe (AMA) (RSA) 69 70 72, Bryce McCabe (RSA) 70 71 70

212 - Russel Franz (RSA) 68 71 73, Jason Diab (RSA) 76 68 68, Kevin Rundle (RSA) 70 75 67, Werner van Wyk (AMA) (RSA) 68 78 66, Christofer Blomstrand (SWE) 69 74 69, Calvin Pearson (RSA) 70 72 70, Tim Rice (IRL) 71 69 72, Darin de Smidt (AMA) (RSA) 69 73 70, Karl Ochse (AMA) (RSA) 70 72 70

213 - Rae Mackie (RSA) 70 72 71, Paul Boshoff (AMA) (RSA) 69 74 70, Gideon Pienaar (RSA) 71 72 70, Brandon Cloete (AMA) (RSA) 71 72 70, Tyron McComb (RSA) 68 77 68, Thriston Lawrence (RSA) 69 73 71, David Terrence Ashley (ENG) 72 74 67, Jason Viljoen (AMA) (RSA) 72 70 71

214 - Teaghan Gauche (AMA) (RSA) 69 72 73, Alistair Waddell (ENG) 71 72 71, Dwayne Basson (RSA) 71 74 69, Sheldon Steyn (ZIM) 71 71 72, Jason Froneman (RSA) 68 74 72, Angus Ellis-Cole (AMA) (RSA) 70 75 69, Steven van Heerden (RSA) 74 71 69, Pieter Kruger (RSA) 72 70 72, Jeff Hopkins (IRL) (AMA) 71 73 70, Sean Olfsen (AMA) (RSA) 70 71 73, James Beale (NZL) 70 69 75

215 - Simon Kruger (RSA) 70 70 75, Luke Jerling (AMA) (RSA) 71 72 72, Wicus Bezuidenhout (RSA) 73 71 71,MJ Daffue (RSA) 71 71 73, Eddie Taylor (RSA) 70 75 70, Chris Erasmus (RSA) 70 73 72, Armandt Scholtz (RSA) 70 72 73,CJ Levey (AMA) (RSA) 71 70 74, Louis Botha (RSA) 77 71 67

216 - Michael Saunders (ENG) 73 74 69, Neezy Thubisi (RSA) 72 73 71, Justin Turner (RSA) 73 73 70, Neal Herman (AMA) (RSA) 73 73 70, Cameron Esau (RSA) 73 71 72, Blaine Dormehl (AMA) (RSA) 73 74 69, Juan Langeveld (RSA) 73 74 69, Joe Nawanga (NAM) 73 72 71, John McClean (NIR) 70 73 73

217 - Roux Jeffery (NAM) 73 75 69, Coert Groenewald (RSA) 70 76 71, Jonathan Agren (SWE) 69 77 71, Terence Boardman (RSA) 65 77 75, Henry Featherstone (ENG) 73 73 71, Conway Kunneke (RSA) 75 71 71, Omar Sandys (RSA) 70 76 71, Maritz Wessels (RSA) 71 73 73, Callie Swart (RSA) 71 78 68, Desne Van Den Bergh (RSA) 72 70 75, Andrew Carlsson (AMA) (RSA) 72 73 72, Johan van der Wath (RSA) 73 72 72, Magnus Svahlin (SWE) 71 73 73, Jacques P de Villiers (RSA) 73 71 73, Duane Keun (RSA) 72 71 74

218 - Paul Colditz (AMA) (RSA) 76 75 67, Divan Marais (AMA) (RSA) 72 71 75, Byron Garvie (RSA) 75 72 71, Paul de Beer (RSA) 73 77 68, Michael Downes (ENG) 69 72 77, Quintin Wilsnach (AMA) (RSA) 71 73 74, N.J. Arnoldi (RSA) 74 71 73, Nemanja Savic (SRB) 71 69 78

219 - Philip Kruse (AMA) (RSA) 70 78 71, Ruan Huysamen (NAM) 73 76 70, Luke Trocado (AMA) (RSA) 73 74 72, Hendrikus Stoop (AMA) (RSA) 75 72 72, Keegan Steyn (AMA) (RSA) 68 77 74, Gavin Miles (RSA) 73 73 73, Pietie Loubser (AMA) (RSA) 75 73 71, Danie Pretorius (RSA) 69 77 73, Pieter Moolman (RSA) 69 78 72, Mateusz Jedrzejczyk (POL) 74 73 72, Warrick Moonieyan (RSA) 73 73 73, Andries Van Zyl (AMA) (RSA) 71 74 74, Gareth Atkinson (AMA) (RSA) 76 71 72, Mikhail Tewary (RSA) 73 72 74, Norman Beggs (RSA) 72 73 74, Jacquin Hess (RSA) 72 69 78

220 - Otto van Greunen (RSA) 77 74 69, Dongkwan Kim (KOR) 74 76 70, Matthew Spacey (RSA) 74 73 73, Karl Lehmacher (AMA) (RSA) 72 72 76, Francois van Vuuren (RSA) 76 74 70, Garth Wolter (RSA) 71 76 73, Thabang Simon (RSA) 70 78 72

221 - Attie van Wyk (AMA) (RSA) 71 79 71, Cameron Nesmith (AMA) (RSA) 76 72 73, Peter Wilson (ENG) 71 75 75, Sipho Bujela (RSA) 73 76 72, Ryan Clarke (RSA) 74 75 72, Juran Dreyer (AMA) (RSA) 77 72 72, Nico du Buisson (AMA) (RSA) 80 66 75, Hilton Hughes (AMA) (RSA) 72 71 78, Mark Fensham (RSA) 75 72 74, Dylan O'Leary (RSA) 75 73 73, Darryn van Zyl (AMA) (RSA) 76 74 71

222 - Melvin Geldenhuis (AMA) (RSA) 78 74 70, Tyron Roelofsz (RSA) 75 74 73, Matthew Kent (RSA) 77 71 74, Bartjie de Klerk (AMA) (RSA) 75 73 74, Louis Calitz (RSA) 71 78 73, Juan Swart (RSA) 71 76 75, Stef Visage (RSA) 79 72 71, Terence Coutinho (AMA) (RSA) 75 74 73, Francois van Coppenhagen (RSA) 73 74 75, Jaco Mouton (RSA) 74 73 75, Fraser Moore (ENG) 73 72 77, Herman Minnie (RSA) 71 73 78, Therion Nel (AMA) (RSA) 73 73 76, Bruce McDonald (ENG) 74 74 74, Tyler Hogarty (RSA) 77 73 72

223 - Ruan Korb (AMA) (RSA) 73 76 74, Jason Rossiter (AMA) (RSA) 77 77 69, Terence Salo (RSA) 72 76 75,Andi Dill (AMA) (RSA) 78 73 72, Riekus Nortje (RSA) 73 71 79, Altaaf Bux (RSA) 73 76 74, Richard Maree (AMA) (RSA) 74 77 72

224 - Jonathan Waschefort (RSA) 73 76 75, David Lamprecht (RSA) 73 78 73, Niel du Preez (AMA) (RSA) 76 76 72, Andrew Ilsley (AMA) (RSA) 75 79 70, Mohit Mediratta (KEN) (AMA) 71 76 77, Glen de Waal (NAM) 75 79 70, Gregg Blainey (ENG) 79 75 70, Zabastian de Jager (AMA) (RSA) 75 76 73, Dwain Dodd (AMA) (RSA) 75 76 73, Shaun Carter (AMA) (IRL) 72 77 75, James Du Plessis (RSA) 75 73 76, Kevin Berger (GER) 70 74 80, Tiaan Diederiks (RSA) 72 73 79

225 - Michael Pfeifer (AMA) (GER) 73 75 77, Lourens Volschenk (AMA) (RSA) 75 76 74, Christof Appel (RSA) 79 75 71,Stephan Erasmus (AMA) (RSA) 76 72 77, John Bele (RSA) 75 75 75, Reinhardt Blaauw (AMA) (RSA) 70 79 76, Phillip Swanepoel (AMA) (RSA) 75 76 74, Teagan Moore (AMA) (RSA) 73 73 79, Albert Venter (AMA) (RSA) 80 72 73

226 - Roberto Lupini (RSA) 70 79 77, Michael Van Hoeck (AMA) (BEL) 76 76 74, Kyle Lucas (RSA) 73 80 73, Wayne Stroebel (RSA) 75 74 77, Joubert van Eeden (RSA) 71 75 80, TJ Bekker (RSA) 71 76 79, Khaya Jika (RSA) 83 73 70, Werner Kapp (RSA) 75 76 75, Albert Visser (AMA) (RSA) 76 75 75, Christopher Wicks (AMA) (RSA) 80 73 73, Basil Wright (RSA) 73 76 77, Deon Bredenkamp (RSA) 75 75 76, Marco de Beer (AMA) (RSA) 78 74 74

227 - Philip Geerts (ITA) (AMA) 71 83 73, Leon Vorster (AMA) (RSA) 72 82 73, Jens Hillermann (AMA) (RSA) 77 74 76, Reghard Neethling (AMA) (RSA) 72 79 76, Werner Van Der Walt (RSA) 76 77 74, Tumelo Wesi (AMA) (RSA) 75 81 71, LJ Lowies (AMA) (RSA) 76 79 72, Peetie van der Merwe (AMA) (RSA) 72 79 76, Quintin Crause (AMA) (RSA) 73 78 76, Pierre de Villiers (AMA) (RSA) 74 76 77

228 - Siegmund Human (AMA) (RSA) 73 82 73, Naithen Moore (AMA) (RSA) 80 71 77, Ean Steenkamp (AMA) (RSA) 80 74 74,Chris Pretorius (RSA) 78 77 73

229 - Stephan de Beer (RSA) 71 81 77, Michael Kok (AMA) (RSA) 77 78 74, Michael Jooste (AMA) (RSA) 72 75 82, Fouche Botha (AMA) (RSA) 75 74 80, Matthew Vogel (RSA) 74 72 83, Ben Mannix (ENG) 79 71 79, Sean Coomer (AMA) (RSA) 77 77 75, Justin Levy (NED) 75 79 75

230 - Mark Lennox (RSA) 77 80 73, Jack Kutumane (RSA) 77 76 77, Derryn Mitri (AMA) (RSA) 76 77 77, Jean-Claude van Dommelen (RSA) 78 76 76, Jason Ackerman (AMA) (RSA) 76 74 80, Andre Pistorius (RSA) 82 76 72

231 - Michael Schutz (AMA) (RSA) 76 80 75, Alejandro Fernandez (ESP)(AMA) 76 75 80, Daniel Mantel (AMA) (RSA) 72 76 83, Jadrick Fourie (AMA) (RSA) 74 76 81, Johann Dannhauser (RSA) 75 79 77, Shalan Govender (RSA) 80 79 72

232 - Pieter Coetzee (AMA) (RSA) 80 79 73, Keagan Thomas (AMA) (RSA) 76 81 75, Wayne du Toit (RSA) 75 82 75, Kevin Smith (AMA) (RSA) 72 84 76, Jared Burnard (RSA) 75 76 81, Michael Armstrong (AMA) (RSA) 76 79 77, Allister de Kock (RSA) 81 75 76, Christopher de Beer (AMA) (RSA) 73 81 78, Jandre Fullard (AMA) (RSA) 77 81 74

233 - Christian Olivier (AMA) (RSA) 77 76 80, Tjaart van Wyk (AMA) (RSA) 75 84 74, Ruan Conradie (AMA) (RSA) 78 78 77, Ryan Ciapparelli (RSA) 83 75 75, Dylan Docherty (RSA) 76 79 78, James McCormick (ENG) 78 79 76, Albie Hanekom (RSA) 77 74 82, Shaun van Tonder (RSA) 77 81 75

234 - Dillon Germishuys (AMA) (RSA) 78 76 80

235 - JP Strydom (AMA) (RSA) 77 81 77, Igor Milicic (SER) 78 79 78, Wiele Rademeyer (AMA) (RSA) 78 79 78, Theodor Oosthuizen (AMA) (RSA) 80 78 77

236 - Edwin Kutara (NAM) 74 84 78, Nicklas van Wyk (AMA) (RSA) 79 78 79, Matthew Adams (AMA) (RSA) 80 77 79,Samuel Botham (ENG) 80 79 77

237 - Max Munther (SWE) 80 76 81

238 - Gerhard Faber (AMA) (RSA) 79 78 81, Ruan Potgieter (AMA) (RSA) 78 81 79, Shane Heckler (AMA) (RSA) 80 75 83, Shingi Shumba (ZIM) 79 81 78

239 - Frank Staal (RSA) 82 77 80, Nick Botha (AMA) (RSA) 78 78 83

240 - Graeme Fransman (NAM) 76 84 80, Bryce Myburgh (RSA) 79 82 79, Marc van Deventer (AMA) (RSA) 75 84 81

241 - Nabeel Desai (AMA) (BOT) 80 85 76, Matthew Collis (ENG) 84 85 72, Amerigo Renieri (AMA) (RSA) 75 88 78

242 - Tom Watson (AMA) (RSA) 79 83 80, Grzegorz Zielinski (POL) 79 84 79, Yusuf Raidhan (ENG) (AMA) 82 82 78,Nico Smith (AMA) (RSA) 79 85 78

243 - Morne Wolmarans (RSA) 81 80 82, Houston Harwood (AMA) (RSA) 80 78 85

245 - Hando Brophy (AMA) (RSA) 81 81 83

246 - Lourens Du Plessis (RSA) 81 85 80

248 - Leon Visser (AMA) (RSA) 81 87 80

249 - Christoff Byleveldt (AMA) (RSA) 83 87 79

250 - Richard Tsai (AMA) (RSA) 89 85 76, Mack Tucker (USA) 79 83 88

251 - Rudolph Van De Venter (AMA) (RSA) 85 85 81

252 - Luke Kelly (RSA) 88 82 82

258 - Jaco Kok (AMA) (RSA) 86 84 88

WD - Calvin Caldeira (RSA) 82 74 WD

RTD - Seneshaw Albert (ETH) 86 RTD

DSQ - Dylan De Beer (RSA), Gareth Akers (RSA)

- Sunshine Tour