South African Retief Goosen (AFP)
South African Retief Goosen clung to his lead while American Nick Watney stole the show Saturday in round three of the Sun City Challenge.
South African Retief Goosen clung to his lead while American Nick Watney stole the show Saturday in round three of the Sun City Challenge.
Former winner and twice US Open champion Goosen continued his stroke-a-day improvement to card a 67 on the par-72, 7,162-metre Gary Player Country Club in a north-west entertainment centre.
Rising star Watney cut 10 shots off his first and second round totals with a 63 that equalled a course record set by South African Ernie Els in 2002 and matched by Swede Henrik Stenson when winning the competition last year.
Goosen lies on 204 ahead of the final round, two shots clear of first-round leader Australian Robert Allenby and reigning US Masters champion Argentine Angel Cabrera.
On the most profitable day for the invitational field, reduced to 11 by the overnight withdrawal of North Ireland 'wonder boy' Rory McIlroy with a stomach bug, only American Hunter Mahan (72) failed to better par.
Goosen, seeking a second victory at the African 'major', collected three birdies plus an eagle three at the 545-metre ninth and did not drop a shot to heighten hopes of matching his trophy-winning 2004 showing.
Better off the tee and with his irons than in previous rounds, the 'Goose' was let down by his putter, squandering three birdie chances through misses from inside six feet.
The Watney recipe for taming the Country Club was birdie based with five on the front nine and four on the second while not conceding a single stroke to par, and at five off the pace is a contender for the top prize.
Although his driving accuracy left something to be desired, the 28-year-old ranked 31 in the world proved a recovery specialist to hit many greens in regulation and also excelled when exiting bunkers.
Allenby had six birdies and two bogeys in his round while Cabrera ended his opening nine only one under before snatching three birdies on the home stretch to kindle hopes of a thrilling climax.
Stenson lies four off the pace after seeing hopes of back-to-back victories dented by a steady rather than spectacular round of 16 pars and a birdie on the final hole of each nine.
He was joined on 208 by Englishman Ross Fisher, whose 66 was the second best return of the day, with the disappointment of a bogey five on the opening hole quickly forfotten as he claimed seven birdies.
© 2009 AFP/sid
