Sam has local boy George in his sights
Pre-tournament favourite George Coetzee put himself in pole position to claim a second Tshwane Open title at his home course after opening up a two- shot lead heading into today’s final round.
Coetzee has been a member at Pretoria Country Club since taking up the sport and put his local knowledge to good use to card a third round of 68 and reach 14-under-par.
England’s Sam Horsfield and Finland’s Mikko Korhonen are Coetzee’s nearest challengers on 12-under. Horsfield surging through the field with a flawless 64 – the lowest round of the day – and Korhonen returning a 69.
“I’m happy with a two-shot lead,” Coetzee said, despite a bogey on the 18th after his drive finished behind a tree.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Playing in front of a home crowd is what it’s all about. I hope I can do something special in front of all the guys.
“I shouldn’t actually think of anything tomorrow – just try to play some good golf. It will be hard to take the win out of the picture, but I’ll try my best to just go out and play some good golf.”
Horsfield, who came through all three stages of the European Tour’s qualifying school and won the final by eight shots, held the outright lead after birdies on the first four holes and further gains on the ninth, 11th and 12th before settling for six straight pars to finish.
“When I was seven-under through 12 I just tried to stay in my zone,” the 21-year-old said.
“I was playing with Matt Baldwin and I know him pretty well. We played together at Q-school and we just had fun out there.
“I think everyone just wants to get themselves into contention and I’ve done that, so tomorrow’s going to be a fun day.
“I had a good week at Q-school, so when I get into contention, I can look back on something like that.”
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson is four shots off the lead after a third round of 67, with Felipe Aguilar, Thomas Aiken and Erik van Rooyen alongside the big Scot on 10-under.
■ European Tour players dominate the top of the leaderboard heading into today’s final round of the WGC Mexico Championship.
India’s Shubhankar Sharma holds a twoshot lead on 13-under-par over England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Spanish pair Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello.
Five-time-major champion Philmickelson joined that trio on the 11-under mark after firing a stunning six-under-par third round of 65 yesterday.