Spain’s Adrian Otaegui reclaimed the outright lead as the final round of the Tshwane Open began at Pretoria Country Club.
The 22 year old Spaniard had taken a two shot halfway lead after a stunning 62 on Friday, but slipped back into a six-way tie at the top after taking ten shots more in his third round.
A bogey at the start of his final round left him chasing South African Jacques Blaauw, but four birdies in five holes put him back in front on 12 under par – the highlight a tee shot to three feet at the fifth.
Blaauw was one behind after seven birdies, but with only three holes left to play was running out of chances.
Home favourite George Coetzee, who a junior event here as a ten year old, and his compatriots Ockie Strydom and Dean Burmester were only two off the pace along with England’s David Horsey, who birdied the sixth from five feet, and Scot Craig Lee.
Blaauw, who had a top-ten finish in the Joburg Open two weeks ago, birdied the 17th from 12 feet and the last from similar range to complete a sparkling best-of-the-week 61 and set the clubhouse mark at 13 under.
He was joined on that mark by Coetzee, who had a hat-trick of birdies from the eighth, with Otaegui and Lee one behind.
