Oosthuizen takes lead in South Africa
LOUIS Oosthuizen will take a threeshot lead into the final round of the South African Open after firing 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 round of 72.
Oosthuizen moved to 14 under at Randpark Golf Club, with England’s Matt Wallace and Zambian world number 1,330 Madalitso Muthiya at 11 under alongside Schwartzel.
Oosthuizen holed a long putt for birdie on the first and capitalised on the par-five fourth before handing the shot straight back on the following hole.
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 from 15 feet 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 told europeantour.com. “Eighteen more holes of good golf and I just need to take one shot at a time.”
Schwartzel, 34, recovered from bogeys on the first and third with a birdie on the 12th, while Wallace carded a 68 as he looks for a fourth win of 2018.
Muthiya, who has just one professional victory, overcame two doublebogeys on his way to a level-par 71, with Scot Robert Mcintyre and home favourite and four-time Major champion Ernie Els then in a group of eight players six shots off the lead.