Spain's Pablo Martin remained two shots in front after six holes of the final round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
Trying to become the first player to win European Tour titles as an amateur and professional, Martin birdied the second and short fifth to keep the chasing pack at bay.
Welshman Sion Bebb closed to one behind with four birdies in the first eight, two of them monster putts, but bogeyed the next and as a result was joint second on 14 under with South African Charl Schwartzel.
Ernie Els was also only one back when he birdied the long second, but then came bogeys at the third and seventh.
France’s Michael Lorenzo-Vera, last year’s winner Richard Sterne and the man he beat in a play-off, Gareth Maybin, were also in the frame as an exciting finish beckoned at Leopard Creek.
Martin was three ahead with five to play after he birdied the 12th and 13th while Schwartzel dropped two shots.
Lorenzo-Vera, having joined the leader at 15 under, went in the water on the long 15th and bogeyed.
