Luke Donald extended his lead to three shots at the Nedbank Golf Challenge after nine holes of his third round.
Despite not hitting the heights of Friday’s front nine, in which he recorded six birdies, the former World Number One gained shots on the fourth, seventh and ninth to move to 13 under at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.
Ross Fisher, whose last European Tour victory came in South Africa earlier this year, had a mixed nine holes, recording three birdies and a bogey to leave him ten under.
The Englishman started well, halving Donald’s overnight two shot advantage at the second with a brilliant chip shot out of the bunker that was inches away from an eagle.
But the 34 year old’s hard work was undone on the next when he failed to recover from a wayward tee shot that landed in the long grass.
Donald then extended his lead at the fourth and, despite Fisher clawing a shot back, he birdied the seventh to move three clear.
A third Englishman, Danny Willett, moved into contention with an impressive start. The 27 year old birdied the second, fifth, sixth and ninth to sit third on nine under.
Thongchai Jaidee produced the shot of the morning, holing a monster putt at the fourth for one of three gains en route to five under.
Home favourite Charl Schwartzel, who started with back to back birdies, and German Marcel Siem are level on four under.
A mixed start from Alexander Levy, playing alongside Donald and Fisher, saw him lose ground on the leaders.
The Frenchman started the day on six under but has slipped nine shots off the lead due to two bogies and a double bogey.
