Garcia keeps lead in South Africa

SUN CITY, South Africa, Nov 10, (AP): Sergio Garcia leads by two strokes going into the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and is on course for a wire-to-wire win at the penultimate event of the European Tour season.

Garcia improved his 1-shot overnight lead over Louis Oosthuizen, although the gap would have been bigger if not for a two-shot swing Oosthuizen’s way on the final hole of the third round at Gary Player Country Club on Saturday.

Garcia bogeyed No 18 for the second straight round after sending his approach into the grandstand. He signed for a 1-under 71 and 10 under overall. Oosthuizen made birdie on the last to finish with a 72 and two off Garcia when he was four behind on the last tee.

Thomas Detry, Mikko Korhonen and

Garcia

two-time Nedbank winner Lee Westwood are tied for third, three shots off the lead on 7 under. Ross Fisher is a further shot back. Garcia birdied his second and third holes but found it tough at the back end of his round again, with his wayward approach to the last green flying high into the rows of spectators up on the stands. Oosthuizen took advantage with just his second birdie of the day, although he benefited from a fortunate kick off the right fringe of the green to set up his birdie putt.

Garcia is seeking a second straight win after triumphing at home at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters last month, and a victory by the Spaniard would be the second wire-to-wire success of the season after Eddie Pepperell at the British Masters. Garcia has won twice at Sun City, but the last of those two titles was in 2003.