Charl Schwartzel will take a one shot lead into the final day of the Tshwane Open after carding a four-under-par 66 on Saturday.
The 2011 Masters Champion notched three birdies, an eagle and a solitary bogey to finish day three on nine under par, one stroke clear of fellow South African Zander Lombard.
Beginning his third round two shots behind overnight leader Anthony Michael, the 31 year old picked up a shot at the second before holing his eight foot eagle putt at the ninth to join Lombard and Michael in a share of the lead at the turn.
Further gains at the 12th and 17th moved Schwartzel to ten under par, but he slipped back to nine under after missing his 12 foot par putt at the last.
Schwartzel is pleased to be in the hunt. He said: "I hit the ball really well. I think I only missed two greens and I gave myself a lot of chances for birdie.
"In a way it’s pleasing to me to see that the consistency of the long game is coming back and it’s just nice to be in contention - Charl Schwartzel
"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.
"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."
Lombard, who started the day six shots off the lead, surged into contention after posting a flawless 63 which included five birdies and an eagle.
The 21 year old covered the front nine in 30 after following pars at the opening five holes with three straight birdies from the sixth before chipping in for an eagle from the edge of the green at the ninth.
And he made further gains at the tenth and 12th holes, before safely parring the final six to finish the day on eight under.
Michael and Haydn Porteous sit a further two shots back on six under after they each dropped a shot at the 18th.
Michael is looking forward to Sunday's final round. He said: "It’s a dream that we all live for, to compete in every tournament we play in and I’m very excited for tomorrow."
England's Toby Tree is in a share for fifth on four under after producing a five-under-par 65 in a mixed third round.
Tree recovered from a bogey on the second with three birdies and an eagle to reach the turn in 31, before adding another eagle at the 12th.
A birdie at the 15th saw Tree move to six under but he closed his round with a double bogey at the last to slip back to four under and finish alongside Dean Burmester.
