Casey Jarvis boosted the chances of another home winner after opening up a one-shot lead at the 2026 Investec South African Open Championship.
A South African player has won the last seven editions of this event, with Jarvis producing a flawless round of 64 following a hectic Saturday at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
Overnight leader Francesco Laporta twice held two-shot advantages during Moving Day, but Jarvis, who claimed his first DP World Tour title last week in Kenya, overhauled the Italian to set the clubhouse target at 11 under.
Hennie Du Plessis and Laporta both joined Jarvis at the summit after birdieing the 17th, but both men bogeyed the last to sit in a share of second at ten under.
"I was actually just thinking as I was finishing off my scorecard that could be one of my greatest putts in front of a home crowd, so I think that was a really cool moment," Jarvis said.
"Obviously it's good momentum heading into tomorrow. To make that putt (at the last) was really nice.
"I really enjoyed it, I played really nicely out there. It wasn't easy. The home support is fantastic and I'm really, really looking forward to tomorrow.
"The experience is great, this course and the home fans are amazing and I love playing here."
Laporta parred the first four holes, but that was enough to lead by two after playing partner Nathan Kimsey bogeyed the opening hole.
Kimsey returned to nine under with a birdie at the fifth, only to bogey the seventh, which Laporta birdied to reach 11 under.
Calum Hill had carded six birdies in his first 16 holes to become the Italian's closest rival at nine under, but Jarvis was on the charge.
The South African had already birdied the third, eighth, ninth and 11th before adding another at the 12th to climb to ten under.
Just as he holed his latest birdie putt, Laporta dropped a shot at the ninth and it was a two-way tie at the top.
Jarvis was the sole leader after Laporta bogeyed the 11th, but he was soon sat alongside Du Plessis at ten under.
Du Plessis recovered from a bogey at the first with birdies at the fifth, eighth and 11th and when he tapped in his fourth of the day at the 12th, he was joint leader.
Laporta returned to double figures and earned a share of the lead with a birdie at the 12th, however, Jarvis moved ahead on his own.
He found the greenside bunker at the short par-four 17th, but chipped to close range for a tap-in birdie to nudge ahead.
Jarvis celebrated wildly when he saved par at the last from over 20 feet after finding the hospitality suite with his approach, setting the target of 11 under.
Du Plessis and Laporta rejoined Jarvis at the summit with birdies at the 17th, but both players found trouble at the last to sit one off the pace.
Scotland's Hill also finished with bogey to sit in solo fourth at eight under, while South African duo Xander Basson and Kieron van Wyk and Kimsey were one further back.
Home quartet Dean Burmester, Branden Grace, Haydn Porteous and Daniel van Tonder occupy tied eighth alongside Englishman Joe Dean, France's Frederic Lacroix and Spaniard Angel Ayora at six under.
