Young Spaniard Pablo Martin had his lead halved to two shots after a third-round 71 in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Golf Club on Saturday.
Martin lies on 202, 14 under par for the 6,631m course designed by South African golf legend Gary Player, which borders the world famous Kruger National Park.
Hot on his heels are South African former Dunhill Championship winners Charl Schwartzel, who posted a 68, and local favorite and three-time “major” winner Ernie Els, whose 69 was drama packed.
Local Jacques Blaauw (66) and Irish pair Gareth Maybin (67) and Damien McGrane (68) are on 205, three shots off the pace entering the final round of an event co-sanctioned by the South African and European tours. Defending champion Richard Sterne of South Africa, who has been battling to solve a swing problem, could only card a level-par 72 and appears out of contention eight strokes behind Martin.
■ALLENBY TOPS OZ PGA
REUTERS, SYDNEY
Australia’s Robert Allenby continued his hot streak by capturing his fourth Australian PGA championship with a four-stroke victory yesterday.
Allenby, who took a one-stroke lead into the final round, shot a five-under 66 to post a 14-under total of 270 at the Hyatt Regency course in Queensland.
Compatriots John Senden (67) and Scott Strange (69) tied for second at 10 under.
The 38-year-old Allenby, who won the Sun City Challenge in South Africa last week, also claimed the Australian PGA title in 2000, 2001 and 2005.
Allenby was flawless yesterday, posting five birdies and while several players got to within a stroke of the lead during the final round, his third birdie of the day on the par-five 12th gave him a cushion.
■STRICKER LEADS SHAR
AFP, NAPLES, FLORIDA
Americans Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly went seven-under par in Saturday’s better-ball second round to seize a one-stroke lead after 36 holes of the 21st Shark Shootout.
Stricker, ranked third in the world, and Kelly finished on 13-under overall after the second round of the US$3 million event, which has 12 US PGA Tour duos in three different formats.
The US$750,000 top prize was to be decided after yesterday’s best-ball scramble.
Stricker and Kelly began the day level for the lead with US duo Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank, who went six-under and settled for a share of second place on 12-under with two other US pairs.
Also on 12-under were J.B. Holmes and Kenny Perry, who were 10-under on Saturday, and compatriots Dustin Johnson and Steve Flesch.
■KIM HOLDS OFF WIE
AP, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
In-kyung Kim of South Korea held off a late charge by Michelle Wie to win the season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters by three shots on Saturday and claim her first European title.
The 13th-ranked Kim shot a 4-under 68 to total 18-under 270. Wie of the US (65) was next and Sweden’s Maria Hjorth (68) was third on 274.
Wie could have made Kim sweat on the 18th but her attempt to reach the green in two failed, the ball rolling back into the water hazard.
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