Retief Goosen moved into position to claim his fourth individual title of the year today, joining overnight leader Alan McLean at the top of the leaderboard after the third round of the South African Players' Championship.
The 2001 US Open champion carded a five under par 67 over the Royal Cape course while McLean limped home for a 70. Both share a two shot lead on 14 under. Three birdies in a row from the 11th for Goosen kick-started this season's European number one and home favourite's round before he added another at the 16th to return in 32.
McLean's back nine was less impressive with three dropped shots in all. Birdies at the 12th and 16th were cancelled with dropped shots at the 13th and 15th before the Scot signed off with a bogey at the last.
Stephen Browne continues to excel on his professional debut after carding a 68 to add to rounds of 67 and 70. The Dubliner reached the turn in 35 before securing an eagle three at the 11th. A bogey at the 14th was corrected with back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th.
This year's European amateur strokeplay champion is three shots adrift in a tie for fourth with five South Africans - Darren Fichardt, Callie Swart, Omar Sandys, Bradford Vaughan and Des Terblanche. In a leaderboard dominated by home players Nic Henning fired the low round of the day, a 64, to command third place on his own on 12 under.
Aside from Goosen, Ernie Els was billed as pre-tournament favourite but the world number four has failed to produce the fireworks which so nearly earned him the Sun City Challenge title last week (Sergio Garcia defeated Els in a play-off). The 32-year-old could only manage a second 70 of the week and looks too far off the pace at eight under to mount a serious challenge in tomorrow's final round.