South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli climbed 21 places on Saturday as he looks to cash in on the riches on offer at the Valero Texas Open, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

Frittelli moved ahead of Ernie Els (71) as the leading South African in San Antonio, largely due to an electric front nine.

Starting at -1 for the tournament, the regular European Tour campaigner parred the first and then produced a stunning bunker shot from 85 yards for a tap-in birdie on the par-five 2nd hole.

A birdie at the 4th followed after he took advantage of his drive to dial in his approach from 161 yds to just four feet. He left himself just inside 10 feet on the long par-three 7th hole and made no mistake with the putt to move further up the leaderboard.

His fourth birdie of the day followed at the next, the par-five 8th hole, after getting up and down from the fringe thanks to two mighty hits on the 604-yard hole.

He got off to the perfect start on the 10th as he made birdie with another sound approach from 140 yards from the right rough. A bogey at the 12th halted his march but he smartly got that shot back with a putt from all of 24 foot on the 15th.

Frittelli found the bunker off the tee on the 16th and couldn’t get up and down to drop another shot before he picked up a pair of pars to close.

Making his sixth PGA Tour start of the year, he is now tied for 20th place and with leaders Zach Johnson and Andrew Landry probably out of touch at -13, a good final round will ensure a healthy payday.

Els closed with two birdies to get to -1 for the day and -3 for the tournament with Retief Goosen in a share of 39th place after a Saturday 70.

Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images