Robin Williams has Antalya in a frenzy after charging into second at Turkish Airlines Open

ANTALYA: Robin Williams mania has overtaken the Regnum Carya Golf Resort and Spa here in Antalya, Türkiye after the young South African charged down the back nine to stay in the hunt in second place heading into the final day at the DP World Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open.

Williams was mobbed by both teenage boys and girls seeking his autograph and a selfie after the 23-year-old went into overdrive by birdieing five of the last nine holes in his third round on Saturday.

After faulting with two bogeys and just one birdie on the front nine, Williams slipped down to six-under at the halfway house, and in real danger of falling out of contention. 

But that’s when Williams pulled himself towards himself with a birdie spree, which included holding a solid 20 feet put on the 18th, to finish on an impressive four-under-par 67 to take hold of a three-way second place with China’s Li Haotong and Spaniard Jorge Campillo.

The trio are chasing front-runner Brandon Thompson Robinson after the Englishman scorched through the field on Saturday with a course record-equalling 62 (-9) for an overall 14-under-par. 

“The back nine, I feel like there’s more scoring opportunities and more birdie opportunities than the front nine,” Williams exclusively told Independent Media. 

“So, I knew I was playing the back nine well. And if I can just give myself chances, because I was hitting good putts on the front nine, just not really making it and missed a few short ones for par there.

“But I knew once I kind of get into my stride, then hopefully we can move up the leaderboard.

“It’s amazing (to be in contention). It’s all you can dream for at night for us to be there on Sunday, and especially in contention on the back nine on Sunday.

“That’s going to be my goal tomorrow. And then you’re going to see we’re going to give it a run, but I’m playing well this weekend. Just going out there and have fun.

The key to Williams maintaining his momentum was salvaging a par-four on the 16th hole, when he held his nerve to nail a 13-foot put. 

“Yeah, completely duffed my second shot with a pitching wedge. It left myself in a horrible spot. I just tried the chip shot, to give myself a putt,” Williams said.

“Hit it a little bit too much. But I think it had a lot of spin on it because I could feel it off the clubface. And then, yeah, made a great putt down the hill to keep the momentum.”

South Africa’s other contender, Wilco Nienaber, experienced contrasting fortunes as he slipped off the pace after heading into the third round in second position.

Nienaber dropped down to 13th place after he shot a one-under-par 72 to finish with an overall eight-under.

Further down the field, Dylan Frittelli shot another solid 69 for a two-under-par third round to remain on four-under, while SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo endured a miserable day with a five-over 76.

But the day belonged to Williams and his father Morné on the caddie bag, and the duo will be hoping to emulate Scottish golfer Robert Macintyre and his dad when they won the Canadian Open together last year.

* Zaahier Adams is attending the Turkish Airlines Open at the Regnum Carya Golf Club in Antalya, courtesy of Turkish Airlines