Adrian Otaegui continued to lead the way at the Tshwane Open as the third round began in South Africa.
The Spaniard, who took control at Pretoria Country Club with a brilliant second round 62 on Friday, made a routine par at the opening hole.
That meant the 22 year old – who narrowly failed to keep his card via The Race to Dubai last season but got it straight back at Qualifying School – held a two shot advantage on 11 under par.
His playing partner, South African Merrick Bremner, remained the nearest challenger on nine under par, with last week’s Africa Open winner Trevor Fisher Jnr and England’s David Horsey a shot further back in third.
Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg and another of the home contingent, Tjaart van der Walt, had set the early clubhouse target at six under par after both signed for rounds of 66 on Saturday.
Otaegui made a bold par save at the second after leaking his tee shot left, but both he and Bremner dropped shots at the third.
Bremner found the hazard at the fourth and ran up a double bogey, allowing Otaegui – who has been mentored by 2012 Ryder Cup-winning captain José María Olazábal – to surge further clear with birdies at the sixth and eighth.
At 12 under he led by two from Horsey, who picked up shots at the eighth and ninth to turn in 33.
Otaegui pulled his second beyond the green at the par five ninth and two poor chips saw him bogey the hole and turn in a level par 35.
Another dropped shot followed at the tenth after a pulled tee shot, but Horsey was unable to capitalise as he bogeyed the 11th to remain one behind, alongside recent Joburg Open runner-up Wallie Coetsee.
Three-time European Tour winner Horsey drew level with a birdie on the long 12th, and in the group behind Otaegui had to make a 20 foot effort just to stay in a share of the lead.
Meanwhile Scotland’s Craig Lee finished with a birdie for a 66 to set the clubhouse mark at nine under par.
