Charl Schwartzel put himself in pole position to win on home turf for the second successive week as a break for rain transformed his third round at the Johannesburg Open yesterday. The South African hit a seven under par round of 64, which gives him a four-shot lead to take into today's final round. Schwartzel triumphed at the Africa Open in East London seven days ago and the 25-year-old will be looking to repeat that winning feeling today at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
Initially it had not looked as if it was going to be such a spectacular day for Schwartzel. He had started yesterday in second place, and began his round slowly, picking up just two shots on the front nine, but he found his form in the closing stages following a short rain break which caused play to be suspended. At that stage he was in a tie for the lead with the overnight leader David Lynn and Darren Clarke after a fluctuating day that had seen the lead change hands on several occasions, but once play resumed Schwartzel was in a class of his own.
He birdied four of the last five holes to leave himself on a score of 18 under after his bogey free day and put himself in a strong position at the front. Leading the challengers looking to pull back Schwartzel today is Clarke. The Northern Irishman's round of 67 yesterday left him on 14 under. The South African Hendrik Buhrmann is on his own in third spot on 12 under, ahead of a group of five players who are a further shot behind.
Lynn though suffered a disastrous time when he came back on to the course after the rain as he slipped out of contention with a four over par round of 75 to fall to eight under, 10 shots off Schwartzel's leading total. The Englishman lost five shots on the back nine, including a double bogey on the 13th hole to wreck his hopes of victory. gcaygill@thenational.ae
