STENSON LEADS BY THREE AFTER THIRD ROUND OF SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN

Henrik Stenson will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the South African Open at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate on the edge of Johannesburg.

Seeking a first tournament win in three years, the Swede posted a third round 69 to maintain his overnight lead.

Stenson followed his opening rounds of 66 and 65 with six more birdies but dropped shots at four, 10 and 16 as he seeks his first win on the European tour in five years and a place in the end-of-season Dubai World Tour Championship.
His playing partner and compatriot Magnus Carlsson picked up three shots in the last four holes and is in a tie for second with home favourite George Coetzee.
Coetzee made nine birdies and an eagle on his way to a course record nine-under par 63.
First-round leader Merrick Bremner and fellow South African Darren Fichardt are tied for fourth at 10-under, a further three shots back.
Former world number one Martin Kaymer is tied for sixth, a further two shots back and eight off Stenson’s clubhouse lead, while former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel slipped out of contention in the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event following a 74.

George Coetzee turned in a sensational 30 and, despite being punished for his aggressive putting with bogeys at the 12th and 15th, he recovered with a birdie-birdie finish to sign for a nine under par 63.
Stenson started the day nine strokes ahead of the charging Coetzee and despite a trio of birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth, he opened the door as he dropped a shot on the tenth.

THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
 Par 216 (3x72)

1	200		Henrik Stenson (Swe)	65	69	66
2=	203		George Coetzee (RSA)	70	70	63
			Magnus A Carlsson (SWE)	68	67	68
4	206		Darren Fichardt (RSA)	68	70	68
5	207		Merrick Bremner (RSA)	64	70	73
6=	208		Martin Kaymer (GER)	70	70	68
			Thomas Aiken (RSA)	73	66	69
			Matthew Carvell (RSA)	66	72	70
			Allan Versfeld (RSA)	69	69	70
			Michael Jonzon (SWE)	68	69	71
11=	209		Shaun Norris (RSA)	72	70	67
			Michiel Bothma (RSA)	69	69	71
13=	210		Trevor Fisher Jnr (RSA)	69	70	71
			Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)	70	69	71
			Jake Roos (RSA)	68	71	71
			Marc Warren (SCO)	70	69	71
			Jaco Van Zyl (RSA)	70	72	68
			Peter Whiteford(SCO)	69	69	72
			Charl Schwartzel (RSA)	68	68	74
20=	211		Ryan Cairns (ZIM)	69	71	71
			Martin Wiegele (AUT)	72	69	70
			James Kingston (RSA)	71	68	72
			Knut Borsheim (NOR)	73	69	69
			James Kamte (RSA)	69	74	68
			Oliver Bekker (RSA)	68	69	74
			Lloyd Saltman (SCO)	70	66	75
27=	212		Andrew Johnston (ENG)	71	70	71
			Espen Kofstad (NOR)	69	70	73	»»
			Markus Brier (AUT)	71	71	70	»»
30=	213		Peter Gustafsson (SWE)	71	70	72	»»
			Jorge Campillo (ESP)	70	71	72	»»
			Matthew Southgate (ENG)	70	71	72	»»
			David Hewan (RSA)	71	70	72	»»
			Garth Mulroy (RSA)	75	67	71	»»
			Chris Swanepoel (RSA)	73	69	71	»»
			Adrien Bernadet (FRA)	68	71	74	»»
			Michael Hollick (RSA)	72	71	70	»»
38=	214		Titch Moore (RSA)	71	69	74	»»
			Ruan de Smidt (RSA)	72	69	73	»»
			Richard Sterne (RSA)	69	70	75	»»
			Niclas Fasth (SWE)	70	69	75	»»
			Roope Kakko (FIN)	70	72	72	»»
			Maarten Lafeber (NED)	71	71	72	»»
			Craig Lee (SCO)	67	70	77	»»
45=	215		David Drysdale (SCO)	69	72	74	»»
			Bradford Vaughan (RSA)	70	70	75	»»
			Estanislao Goya (ARG)	69	72	74	»»
			Aron Zemmer (ITA)	73	69	73	»»
			Neil Schietekat (RSA)	73	69	73	»»
			Anthony Snobeck (FRA)	69	73	73	»»
			Justin Harding (RSA)	73	70	72	»»
52=	216		HP Bacher (AUT)	70	70	76	»»
			Desvonde Botes (RSA)	71	71	74	»»
			Lasse Jensen(DEN)	72	70	74	»»
			Alastair Forsyth (SCO)	71	72	73	»»
			Gareth Maybin (NIR)	73	70	73	»»
57	217		Ross Wellington (RSA)	72	71	74	»»
58=	218		Tyrone Ferreira (RSA)	72	69	77	»»
			Jaco Ahlers (RSA)	69	70	79	»»
			Hennie Otto (RSA)	71	72	75	»»
61	219		Branden Grace (RSA)	72	69	78	»»
62=	220		Andy Sullivan (ENG)	71	70	79	»»
			Theunis Spangenberg (RSA)	73	70	77	»»
64=	221		Oscar Floren (SWE)	70	70	81	»»
			Steven Tiley (ENG)	69	71	81	»»
			Sam Walker (ENG)	71	72	78	»»