GOLF - JOBURG OPEN: Michael Hoey could only manage a one-over 72 in today's third round of the Joburg Open and finds himself two shots off the shared overnight lead held by South African pair, Charl Schwartzel and Andrew McLardy, and Scotland's David Drysdale.
Just as thunder and lightning affected yesterday's round, play was suspended for a period today due to more lightning and rain at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
However, the delay didn't stop Swartzel getting into his stride and firing an equal best of the week 63 to share the lead on 11-under 202. Compatriot McLardy carded a 69 while Drysdale, who led on his own at the halfway stage, still has a share of the lead despite his level par 71.
Retief Goosen, Joakim Haeggman and Anders Hansen make up the chasing pack, one shot behind on 10-under. Two-time major winner Goosen was impressive with his 65, one better than Haeggman, while Hansen moved into contention with his 64.
Hoey is one of a group of seven players one shot further back on nine-under and alongside the likes of fellow former Walker Cup player Danny Willet from England.
But it was Schwartzel who made the biggest move of the day in an eventful round that included no less than 10 birdies, a hole-in-one, two bogeys plus a double bogey as he blazed the east course.
He picked up seven shots through his opening 10 holes, before a double bogey on the par-four 11th was followed by a sublime seven iron at the next - the par-three 205-yard 12th - that dropped just short of the cup and rolled in.
"What a day! The first 10 holes, I felt pretty flawless," said the world number 68 . "Nothing could go wrong, I was hitting the ball close, I wasn't making any long putts, I was just hitting it four foot from the hole every time.
"You know, seven under, I was thinking maybe I could make 59 today.
"And that came to a quick halt on the very next hole. I made double and then I was sort of almost ready to walk off the golf course right there.
"But then on the next hole I made a hole-in-one and was celebrating. So it was really nice.
"My rain delay went well today. I managed to make my two birdies which just put a smile on my face."
Goosen was faultless in his third round at the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event and was especially impressive at the turn where he picked up four birdies in six holes between the eighth and 13th.
"Yeah, it was good coming off the back nine," said Goosen. "The first two rounds I had bad back nines. I had good front nines then blowing it on the back nine, so it was good to get a nice finish in.
"It's a great golf course and the first four holes are the toughest you will find on any golf course. I got through those in par and then it was good to get a couple of birdies going on the par fives.
"It's going to be an exciting start tomorrow. The first four holes I must try to be par or make one shot better, then I can gain on the field."
Defending champion Richard Sterne managed two birdies in his last two holes to move to six-under and keep his hopes of winning a third consecutive European
Tour title alive.
-additional reporting PA
Collated third round scores and totals in the European tour Joburg Open, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington GC, South Africa
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71):
202David Drysdale 65 66 71, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 68 71 63, Andrew McLardy
(Rsa) 65 68 69
203Anders Hansen (Den) 71 68 64, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 69 68 66, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 68 65
204Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 69 69 66, Danny Willett 67 66 71, Tyrone Van Aswegen (Rsa) 69 65 70, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 71 66 67, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 65 69 70, James Kamte (Rsa) 69 69 66, Michael Hoey 64 68 72
205Oliver Bekker (Rsa) 67 65 73, David Dixon 68 69 68, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 69 69 67
206Brett Liddle (Rsa) 67 70 69, Graham De laet (Can) 72 66 68, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 67 72 67, Richard McEvoy 69 65 72, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 67 70 69, Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 72 64 70, Taco Remkes (Ned) 67 70 69, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 70 67 69, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 66 72 68
207Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 69 66 72, Gary Clark 72 67 68, James Kingston (Rsa) 71 69 67, Alan McLean 71 65 71, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 71 66 70
208Antti Ahokas (Fin) 72 64 72, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 70 69 69, Keith Horne (Rsa) 68 70 70, Simon Griffiths 73 64 71
209Brandon Pieters (Rsa) 68 71 70, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 74 65 70, John Mellor 72 67 70, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 65 71 73, Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 69 69 71, James Morrison 67 68 74, Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 70 70 69, Gary Lockerbie 69 68 72, Iain Pyman 71 69 69, Dion Fourie (Rsa) 68 70 71, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 72 64 73
210Kevin Stone (Rsa) 69 70 71, Jan Are Larsen (Nor) 66 69 75, Tyrone Ferreira (Rsa) 68 72 70, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 66 72 72, Doug McGuigan 69 71 70, Charl Coetzee (Rsa) 68 67 75, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 65 71 74
211Chris Gane 70 70 71, Chris Wood 69 70 72, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 67 73 71, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 63 76 72, Jake Roos (Rsa) 69 69 73, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 68 70 73, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 69 71 71, John E Morgan 69 70 72, Cameron Johnston (Rsa) 72 66 73
212Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 67 71 74, David Carter 67 72 73, Martin Wiegele (Aut) 68 72 72, Carl Suneson (Spa) 67 73 72, Wallie Coetsee (Rsa) 72 64 76, Phillip Archer 69 70 73, Christopher Doak 68 70 74
213Andre Bossert (Swi) 70 69 74, Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 70 70 73, Neil Cheetham 73 67 73, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 73 65 75, Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 68 72 73, Edrich Jansen (Rsa) 70 70 73, Michele Reale (Ita) 66 74 73
214Kasper linnet Jorgensen (Den) 68 72 74, Tc Charamba (Zim) 70 67 77, Michael Curtis (Zim) 74 65 75, Sam Little 72 68 74, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 65 78
215Gregory Molteni (Ita) 73 65 77, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 67 73 75
219Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 68 72 79
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