South African duo dominate

South Africans Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman were turning the SAA Open into a duel in the third round at the Humewood Golf Club in Port Elizabeth.

Els, who has won the title three times but narrowly lost it to Retief Goosen last year, was first off the mark with birdies on the first two holes to briefly take the lead before he was rejoined by overnight leader Patrik Sjoland of Sweden.

Immelman, who has also won the tournament twice, had a more subdued start but then grabbed consecutive birdies on five, six and seven before two more on 10 and 11 to take a three-shot lead at one stage at 16 under, threatening to run away from the rest of the field.

Els, however, was not to be outdone as he attempts to win to ensure that he does not finish the year without a tournament victory and while his birdie on the par-five seventh was negated by a dropped shot on the 11th, he bounced back almost immediately with another birdie on the 13th to bring him within two of his compatriot.

The ‘Big Easy’ was relishing the challenge, and responded when Immelman dropped a birdie on 15 by sinking a 12-foot putt for eagle after a superb approach to the green to keep him within a stroke of Immelman.

Sjoland kept in touch at 14 under, but was struggling to keep up with the home favourites.

There were some big movers just behind the South African duo as a number of players made their moves to try to keep pace with the leading trio.

Possibly the disappointment of the day was Goosen, who endured a quiet front nine, and had reached the 15th, picking up only two shots to be 11 under.

South African Darren Fichardt shot a 65 to take him to 12 under while first-round leader Andrew Raitt of England was cruising along at three under for the day and 12 under for the tournament.

Former Dunhill Championship champion Charl Schwartzel clawed his way up the leaderboard after an impressive morning with a 65 to move to 11 under and was joined there by an equally impressive 66 by Englishman Ross Fisher. The two were in a group of players which include Goosen, Italian Edoardo Molinari and Worksop pro Lee Westwood.

The best round of the morning came from Oliver Fisher, who shot a 65 to go with his 77 and 67 from the first two rounds and move from even par to seven under for the tournament.

Fisher had struggled to make the cut but was helped when tournament officials moved it from one under to even par on Friday night.