It was a forgettable day for the two remaining South Africans in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open – Haydn Porteous and Dean Burmester – at Portstewart.

The duo entered the day at seven under par and in a share of 19th place, but neither managed to kick on on a day when the vast majority of the field broke par.

For Porteous, he will hope to forget his finish after arriving at the 17th three under for the day, before a double bogey and then a closing bogey derailed his plans and forced him to sign for an even par 72.

An opening 34, buoyed by birdies at four, seven and nine was followed by four consecutive pars before his final birdie of the day at the 14th. His progress up the leaderboard was then almost immediately stopped in its tracks by his late wobble that leaves him in a share of 40th place and ten off the lead.

Two shots further back is Burmester, who carded a 74 on Saturday after limping into the clubhouse with a back nine 40. Turning at –2 for the day, he started his inward nine with a double and a drop on 10 and 11 before getting one back on the 13th.

The 28-year-old finished bogey bogey to tumble down the leaderboard – losing 32 places on Saturday.