The South African No 1 amateur had looked unstoppable after the second round when he led by five strokes at Johannesburg's GlendowerTitleist 712 AP2 Irons
, but Stone hit a third round wobble on Thursday and squandered his lead, shooting a 3-over 75 to fall two shots behind Bolognesi and one behind teenager Haydn Porteous, South Africa's second ranked amateur .

His share of third place on seven-under-par 209 will see him line up alongside England's Toby Tree (69) and fellow South Africans Desne van den Bergh (70) and Soweto Country Club's Musi Nethunzi (68).

As far as Stone is concerned, he is just two shots off behind Bolognesi, who surged into the lead at 9-under 207 with a 68 and one behind Porteous, who turned in a 69 and is certainly not out of contention. Titleist 712 AP2 Irons


"My campaign took a knock today, but the championship is still very much on," he declared.

"Maybe it was the 90 minute delay this morning, maybe it was just my turn, but my luck definitely took the day off.

"It was a very frustrating day, especially because I was looking to post another good score after my 66 and 68. But that's exactly how Titleist 712 AP2 Irons goes. Of course I'm disgusted with the round, but rounds like these you just have to write it off to experience.

"What's done is done, you can't change a thing, so look ahead and change what you can."

Birdies at two and five took Stone to 12 under, but an unlucky lie after a decent tee shot at the eighth was the start of his woes.

"I had to hit my second from an awkward stance with both feet in a Titleist 712 AP2 Irons bunker with the ball level with my knees," said Stone, "The my approach caught the greenside trap and I had a plugged lie. I scooped it out to 10-feet and two-putted for bogey."