PRE-TOURNAMENT favourite Charl Schwartzel will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Tshwane Open as he looks to win an eighth European Tour title on home soil in South Africa.
Schwartzel struggled to an opening 71 at Pretoria Country Club but carded a flawless six- under-par 64 on Friday. He followed that up with a 66 that included an eagle and three birdies. However, the former Masters champion and world No 43 gave the chasing pack increased hope for today with a bogey on the 18th, a wayward drive into the trees leading to a first dropped shot since the 15th hole of his first round.
Schwartzel will start today on nine under par, topping the leaderboard ahead of compatriot Zander Lombard, whose flawless third-round 63 featured five birdies and an eagle in the space of seven holes from the sixth.
Overnight leader Anthony Michael and Joburg Open winner Haydn Porteous are two shots further back, Michael carding a 71 and Porteous recovering from a triple-bogey seven on the seventh to shoot 68.
Scotland’s Jamie McLeary remained in a share of seventh place, six shots off the pace on three under par, after a 69 that included six birdies and five bogeys. McLeary dropped shots at the first and second and then three more in the last five holes.
Leader Schwartzel said: “I hit the ball really well. I think I only missed two greens and I gave myself a lot of chances for birdies, the same as [Friday]. It’s pleasing to see that the consistency of the long game is coming back and it’s just nice to be in contention. There’s nothing that builds confidence more than playing well. I worked hard the last few weeks and it’s nice to see that it’s getting really good. Make a few putts out there and we can do some damage.”
Lombard, who was briefly hospitalised last weekend after being bitten on his left hand by a venomous spider, hopes local knowledge will give him the edge today.
The 21-year-old, who is looking to follow young compatriots Porteous and Brandon Stone into the winner’s circle, said: “I’ve played this course a million times because it’s in my backyard. It’s a tricky course. You have to play it in the right places – it’s not just hit it hard and putt well.
“You have to really hit the right sides of the fairways and the right sides of the greens to really get a round going.
“I did all of it pretty well. I had a few miscued shots but I recovered extremely well and I’m really happy with my game.”
England’s Toby Tree is five shots off the lead after a 65 marred by a double bogey on the 18th, where a wild drive meant he had to chip out of the trees and on to the adjacent 10th fairway.
Tree, who is making only his fifth start on the European Tour after coming through pre-qualifying last Tuesday, had recovered from an earlier bogey on the second with three birdies and an eagle to reach the turn in 31.
The 21-year-old then chipped in for another eagle on the 12th and birdied the 15th before coming to grief on the 18th – a hole he had also bogeyed on the first two days.
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