Shubhankar Sharma opens up five-stroke advantage at Joburg Open

Shubhankar Sharma moved a step closer to a maiden professional title at the Joburg Open, where Christofer Blomstrand threatened European Tour history.

Sharma fired a bogey-free 65 in scoring-friendly conditions on the Firethorn Course to take a five-shot lead in to the final round, with Blomstrand his closest challenger following a round-of-the-day 62.

Blomstrand looked on course for a potential sub-60 round until a final-hole bogey, while midway pacesetter Tapio Pulkkanen lies seven strokes off the pace after posting a one-over 73.

This week's event is the latest in the Open Qualifying Series, with the three leading players who finish in the top 10 and who are not already exempt will earn a place at The 147th Open.

Beginning the day eight strokes off the lead, Blomstrand posted back-to-back birdies from the second and followed an eagle at the fourth with three more gains in a front-nine 29.

The Swede, on his 26th birthday, cancelled out a blemish at the 10th with birdies over his next three holes, as Sharma posted four straight gains from the second and added another at the ninth.

Blomstrand drained a 20-foot eagle at the 14th to go 11 under for the round and move closer to a potential 59, although preferred lies wouldn't have seen it count in the record books.

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Three pars and a bogey over the closing stretch from Blomstrand moved Sharma three clear, with the 21-year-old extending his advantage with successive gains from the 14th.

England's James Morrison shares third spot with Erik van Rooyen after a five-under 67, with Marcus Armitage a further shot back alongside Pulkkanen thanks to a blemish-free 67.

Watch the final round of the Joburg Open live on Sunday from 9.30am on Sky Sports Golf