Golf: Els hopes for home rule

Home player Ernie Els held a three-stroke lead after the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club following a second successive 66 in Sun City.

The South African leads Germany’s Bernhard Langer going into tomorrow’s final round with Ireland’s Padraig Harrington a shot further back following a 61 to follow rounds of 70 and 72.

Canada’s Mike Weir lies fourth on 204, one shot ahead of Spain’s Sergio Garcia, with Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie back on 209 and Els’ fellow South African Retief Goosen a shot further adrift.

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke was 18 shots off the pace on 217 following rounds of 75, 68 and 74.