Martin maintains top spot

Martin: Retains lead

Third round leaderboard
(GB and Ire unless stated)
P Martin (Spn) -11
E Molinari (Ita) -10
A Hansen (Den) -9
F Andersson Hed (Swe) -9
J Kingston (SA) -9

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• EuroTour Schedule
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Pablo Martin recovered from an uneven performance to remain on course for a second consecutive win after the third round of the South African Open.

The 23-year-old Spaniard somehow managed a level-par 72 at Pearl Valley to sit on 11 under, one shot clear of Italian Edoardo Molinari.

However Martin certainly made hard work of retaining his place at the summit of the leaderboad as he carded four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

He struck a spectator on the head when he sailed over the green at the seventh, although he still managed to par the hole, before dropping shots at the next two holes.

Unlikely birdie

An unlikely birdie at the short 12th when his tee shot, heading for the water, hit a rock and came out onto the green, proved a timely boost.

Martin, who won the Alfred Dunhill Championship last weekend, did double-bogey 14th but fought back and earned his reward with a chip-and-putt four on the 601-yard last, the birdie enough to see him sit one clear.

However Molinari is on a mission of his own as he seeks an incredible fifth victory in his last eight starts.

The 28-year-old, round in a three-under 69 even though he double-bogeyed the seventh himself, will move into the world's top 50 for the first time if he completes a top-nine finish.

Anders Hansen of Denmark, Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed and South African James Kingston, who triumphed in the tournament two years ago, sit together in third place on nine under.