Super Oost gets big boost on his home turf

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN takes a three-shot lead into the final round of the South African Open after a battling 67 on day three in Johannesburg.

The 2010 Open champion entered the weekend two shots behind fellow South African Charl Schwartzel but the 2011 Masters winner will now have to do the chasing after a disappointing 72.

Oosthuizen moved to 14 under at Randpark Golf Club, with England’s Matt Wallace and Zambian world No.1,330 Madalitso Muthiya at 11 under alongside Schwartzel. Oosthuizen (left) GOLF

holed a long putt for a birdie on the first and capitalised on the par-five fourth before handing the shot straight back on the next.

An excellent approach into the sixth helped him turn in 33 and he completed a hat-trick of birdies on par fives as he got up and down from bunkers on the 12th and 14th before birdieing the par-three 15th for a four-shot lead.

A bogey after finding sand off the tee at the par-three 17th removed some of the gloss but Oosthuizen was pleased with his day’s work. “It was tough again but I played well,” he said. “Eighteen more holes of good golf and I just need to take one shot at a time.”

Schwartzel recovered from bogeys on the first and third with a birdie on the 12th, while Wallace carded a 68.

Muthiya overcame two double-bogeys in a level-par 71, with Scot Robert McIntyre and Ernie Els in a group six shots off the lead.