Golf: Maritz sets sights on maintaining lead

South African Martin Maritz fired a brilliant 63 - just one outside the course record - to earn a two-shot lead over England's Mark Foster going into the final round.

Paul McGinley is on 13 under par, while David Higgins is at one over.

Foster, winner of the European Challenge Tour last season, carded a third-round 65 for a 15-under-par total of 201 after a day of low scoring at Houghton Golf Club.

Sandeep Grewal continued his impressive display in third, one shot further back.

But Ernie Els will be the centre of attention today, after the South African matched Maritz's 63 to move into contention to retain the title he won here in 1999.

Els will be paired in the final round with Grewal, who said yesterday: "I can't wait. We didn't have that many spectators with us today but we will tomorrow and hopefully I'll learn a lot from it and it will be a great experience."

Els is joined on 13-under by Ireland's Paul McGinley, overnight joint leader and Houghton member Roger Wessels, and England's Justin Rose.

South African James Kingston meanwhile had enjoyed the biggest, and most lucrative, stroke of luck of the third round on the 15th.

Kingston pulled his four-iron approach to the 225-yard par three into trees surrounding the green, but saw the ball bounce out, onto the green and roll into the cup for a hole-in-one that earned him an Audi TT.

Third round leaders (Ire and GB unless stated)

M Maritz (SA) -17

M Foster -15

S Grewal -14

P McGinley -13

E Els (RSA) -13

J Rose -13

R Wessells (RSA) -13

M Mouland -12