Charl Schwartzel on Saturday carded an excellent four-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead ahead of the final day of the Tshwane Open in Pretoria.
Home hope Schwartzel started the third round two strokes adrift of overnight leader Anthony Michael, but picked up a shot at the second before holing his eight-foot eagle putt at the ninth to join Zander Lombard and Michael in a share of the lead at the turn.
The 2011 Masters champion is now nine-under overall, one better than compatriot Lombard, who hit a best-of-the-day 63 to catapult himself into contention.
A bogey at the last took the shine slightly off the round for 31-year-old Schwartzel, who is aiming to win an eighth European Tour title on home soil after also taking a fourth Alfred Dunhill Championship crown earlier this season.
“I love playing at home on golf courses I’m familiar with, in front of familiar faces. We don’t get to do that very often, so it’s nice,” Schwartzel told the official European Tour Web site.
“I hit the ball really well. I think I only missed two greens and I gave myself a lot of chances for birdie,” he said. “It’s very close up there and it’s still going to come down to tomorrow and who actually just shoots the best score. That’s what it’s going to be so I’m looking forward to it.”
Lombard, who finished second behind Haydn Porteous in the Joburg Open last month, managed five birdies and an eagle in a stunning bogey-free round to snatch a place in the final group.
“I just had a great round. I put together some solid putts and kept it in the right places again. I managed to keep the bogeys off the card and really put a solid score together,” Lombard said.
On a leaderboard dominated by home players, Porteous is three shots off the lead in a tie for third with Michael after signing for a 68.
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