South African duo leading in Phuket

South African duo Richard Sterne and Anton Haig opened up a one shot lead over England’s Oliver Wilson as the final round of the Johnnie Walker Classic reached the halfway point at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket.

Haig dropped a shot at the seventh to reach the turn in 35 , moving to 12 under overall despite carding two birdies, while overnight leader Sterne carded a bogey at the par-four third

Wilson also reached the turn one over to drop to 11 under after back-to-back bogeys at the sixth and seventh cancelled out an earlier birdie at the second.

Canadian Mike Weir was the biggest mover of the third round as the 2003 US Masters champion moved to nine under with four holes remaining.

Weir, who looked to have slipped out of contention following a second-round 78, collected four birdies on the front nine before adding another at the par-five 11th to join Ernie Els and Retief Goosen three shots off the lead.

World number six Els, looking for a third Johnnie Walker Classic title this week, reached the turn in 34 before moving to three under for his final round with another at the 544-yard par-five 11th.

World number eight Goosen reached the turn in 36 before making an ideal start to the back nine with a birdie at the 10th.

England’s Simon Hurd, who stormed up the leaderboard yesterday with a 66 in the third round, picked up two shots and moved onto eight under with five holes to play.

Colin Montgomerie and Graeme Storm remained on seven under, with Stephen Gallacher a further shot adrift.

Montgomerie struggled for consistency throughout his final round and failed to add to his overnight tally despite picking up three birdies in his opening 12 holes, while Storm reached the turn in 35 but dropped a shot at the 10th to drop back to level par.