Ernie Els takes a three shot lead into the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge after a near flawless 66 at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa.
Els, aiming to win the event for the third successive year, dropped just the one shot all day, a bogey five on the final hole the only blemish on his card, for a 17 under par total of 199. He leads Bernhard Langer, who shot a five under par 67 for a 54 hole total of 202, with Padraig Harrington a further shot back on 13 under par 203 after a brilliant 11 under par 61 in the third round.
Els made his move with a remarkable run of six successive birdies from the fifth to pull clear of the field. Another birdie followed on the 14th but on the 18th he hit the greenside bunker and his 25 foot putt for par after splashing out lipped the hole.
Harrington posted the target after reaching the turn in 30 and coming home in 31 in a round that included 12 birdies and one bogey. He also saved par on the par five ninth after finding water with his approach.
“I played well but things have to go for you when you shoot 61. The only hole it didn't go for me was the ninth," Harrington said.
"I was not holding back at any stage during the round and I was in a very aggressive frame of mind."
Langer moved into contention to win the title for a third time after a five under par 67.
Lee Westwood, who started the day a stroke adrift of Els, fell off the pace with a two under par 70 to move to 12 under.
Before play started the field was cut to 11 players with the disqualification of Jim Furyk for signing the wrong card. The American called a penalty on himself after he breached the placing rule, although he only realised the mistake on Friday night. He continued as marker for Nick Price.
