Louis Oosthuizen remained a shot clear of Stephen Gallacher entering the closing stages of the Maybank Malaysian Open.
The South African, who has performed admirably all week after finishing second to Bubba Watson at The Masters Tournament before making the 30-hour journey from Augusta National, led by one overnight with eight holes of his third round remaining.
He was caught by 37 year old Gallacher, but the Scot bogeyed the 17th to go into the final round one behind the 2010 Open Champion as the tournament made up for time lost to storms on Friday and Saturday.
The 29 year old Oosthuizen played his first 12 holes in two under par to be 14 under for the week, while birdies at the fifth and tenth kept Gallacher - looking for a first win since 2004 - within touching distance.
England’s Danny Willett, seeking a first European Tour title, had a triple bogey eight on the fifth but still found himself only two behind with five holes to play after five birdies.
It looked like a two-horse race when Willett bogeyed the 14th, and Oosthuizen swung the odds in his favour with a 15 foot birdie at the 13th to pull two clear.
Oosthuizen almost drove in the water at the 16th, but having had a lucky break took full advantage by pitching to a foot with his approach shot for a birdie which left him three clear with two to play.
