Sunday 4 December 2016 12:47, UK
Brandon Stone will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship after firing another impressive 66 on the third day at Leopard Creek.
A six-under round on Friday had given Stone a one-shot advantage over the field at the halfway stage, and he extended his lead after making seven birdies and just one bogey on Saturday.
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel moved into a share of second place thanks largely to a run of five birdies in six holes after the turn, while England's Chris Hanson birdied the last two holes to ensure a place in Sunday's final group.
But Stone will be the man to beat on the final day, which will start earlier than scheduled due to the threat of bad weather, and the South African got off to a great start when he converted a precise approach to the opening hole.
The 23-year-old displayed excellent composure as he pulled off clutch par saves at each of the next two holes, and he rattled in a confident six-foot putt for birdie at the fourth.
Stone, winner of the BMW SA Open back in January, consolidated his lead with further birdies at five and six, and he picked up two more immediately after the turn before a wayward tee shot to the par-three 12th cost him his only blemish of the day.
But he responded with his seventh birdie at the 13th, and he missed a good chance for another at 15 while scrambling an unlikely par at the next when he holed a superb 25-foot putt.
Two closing pars kept him comfortably ahead of the chasing pack, which includes four-time champion Schwartzel after he bounced back from an erratic front nine with a sparkling start to the inward half.
Schwartzel lost momentum with a bogey at the 16th and parred in to return a 68 to close on 14 under alongside Hanson, who carded eight birdies against four bogeys in an entertaining 68.
Home veteran Keith Horne reeled off four consecutive birdies from the 11th and went on to complete a 67 to join Hanson and Schwartzel in the tie for second, while Benjamin Hebert is two shots further adrift after mixing seven birdies with three dropped shots.
The low round of the day went to Scottish journeyman David Drysdale, who was one of only two players to avoid a bogey on day three as a flawless 64 lifted him to 11 under par.
Drysdale raced to the turn in 30 and added three birdied in four holes from the 11th before parring safely in, but 2015 champion Branden Grace slipped eight shots off the lead after three bogeys in five holes on the back nine, including two sixes, saw him labour to a disappointing 71.
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