Jamie Donaldson produced another fine round of 67 at Sun City on Saturday to cement his lead after three rounds of the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The 38-year-old Welshman was two clear at the half-way stage before grabbing birdies at the fourth and fifth holes of his third round to move four ahead.
The two-time European Tour winner did well to save par at the long ninth after hitting his approach in the water and a birdie at the par-five next took him to 14-under-par for the week.
He eased further ahead with birdies at the 11th, 14th and 15th and, despite a bogey on the penultimate hole, will start the final round on 16-under, three strokes ahead of the chasing pack.
“To win here, against such a high quality field would be up there,” Donaldson said.
His efforts meant that even a fine 66 from Thomas Bjorn was not enough for the Dane to significantly close the gap.
Having managed three birdies on the front nine, Bjorn sparked into life with an eagle at 10 and a birdie at 11.
A six at 14 set him back, but the veteran picked up a shot on the last to stay alongside the US’ Ryan Moore.
Moore, a recent winner on the US PGA Tour, turned in a three-under-par 33 before picking up two further shots on the back to complete a 67.
Further back on 11-under were Thongchai Jaidee, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson.
Race To Dubai winner Stenson, who hit a solid 69, will wonder what might have been, having twice found the water en route to a double-bogey at nine.
Garcia will have very differing emotions, having produced one of the shots of the day to chip in at 14, his eagle followed by birdies at 16 and 17.
There was no such drama for Thongchai, who did not drop a shot en route to a wonderful 66.
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