Wallie Coetsee will take a two shot lead into the final round of the Joburg Open as he chases a maiden European Tour title at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
The 42 year old South African, who ended a 17-year title drought on the co-sanctioning Sunshine Tour with a win in Zambia last year, made a slow start to be one over through ten holes of his third round.
But a hat-trick of gains from the 11th saw Coetsee return to the top of the standings before he impressively saved par from ten feet at the 14th.
A bogey at the 16th was cancelled out by a gain from three feet at the par five last, giving Coetsee a two under par 70 over the East Course, which is home to the weekend’s action having been used in conjunction with the West Course for the first two rounds.
South Africans have won the last five stagings of this event and Coetsee is on course to make it six as his 14 under par total put him two clear of compatriots Jacques Blaauw and Tjaart van der Walt and English pair David Howell and Steve Webster.
World Number 509 Coetsee, who has recorded one top-ten finish in 37 European Tour events, three-putted the par five first for par and the fourth for a bogey, but recovered to birdie the ninth and then card a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th after another dropped shot on the tenth.
A bogey on the 16th reduced Coetsee's lead to a single shot before a superb pitch to the 18th set up a closing birdie.
"The first tee shot there were no nerves, the six iron into the middle of the green there were no nerves, but once I grabbed that putter there was no feel," Coetsee admitted. "I three-putted but after that there were no nerves.
"You need to keep a positive mind, me and my caddie are enjoying it out there and hopefully we can tomorrow.
"There is a lot at stake, more than you can think of, but it's just a game at the end of the day. Last night I only slept for about four hours but tonight I think I'm going to have a lot of sleep."
Webster carded a flawless 65 to charge through the field, while Howell carded five birdies and one bogey in his 68.
Webster missed the cut in this event last year and was then ruled out for the next four months of the season after undergoing a wrist operation, and has made just one cut in three events in 2015.
"I made a good birdie at the first and a good save at the second and just got on a bit of a roll," Webster said. "I missed three or four 12-footers which was frustrating but there was a lot of really good golf today.
"I gave myself a lot of chances and that's what my game is all about."
The top 14 places featured eight South Africans and six Englishmen, with defending champion George Coetzee and South African Open winner Andy Sullivan among a nine-strong group on 11 under.
Howell has made just one halfway cut in four events in 2015 and said: "The season's got off to a slow start so I came down here for three weeks and so far so good.
"I've had a couple of bad swings each day but apart from that it's been pretty good. You have to keep your foot down and keep making the birdies and obviously stay away from the mistakes. I've had one big score with a seven yesterday but played some good golf between that.
"I started with a new coach, Justin Parsons, a few weeks ago, just working on my rhythm. I am trying to swing the club as slowly as I have in my whole life and that's a real challenge to bring that to the course.
"I am delighted with how I've done that so far this week, it's getting better by the day and hopefully that bodes well for tomorrow and future weeks coming up."
