Marcus Kinhult will take a two-shot lead into Sunday's fourth round as he goes in search of a second DP World Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Kinhult started the day with a three-shot cushion before being joined at the top of the leaderboard by the time he reached the turn as the chasing pack closed in on a much cooler day at Leopard Creek Country Club.
But a brilliant back-nine 35, including a birdie at the last, saw him reach 14 under par and head into the final round with a healthy advantage over nearest challenger Ryan van Velzen.
The Swede made a total of six birdies and three bogeys in his third-round 69, with home favourite Van Velzen firing an eagle and five birdies in his flawless 65 to sit alone in second place on 12 under, one clear of Dutchman Darius van Driel in third.
Kinhult got off to an ideal start, converting his birdie putt at the first from around eight feet to move to 12 under.
The 28-year-old gave the shot straight back with a bogey at the par-five second but avoided further damage with a magnificent ten-foot par save on the third green.
A birdie followed at the fourth before Kinhult drove the sixth green and tapped in his birdie putt after narrowly missing a lengthy eagle try.
That saw him re-establish his three-shot lead but a bogey at the eighth, after failing to get up and down from a bunker, and a charge from Van Velzen wiped out Kinhult's advantage altogether.
Kinhult regained the solo lead with a birdie at the tenth, showing great distance control to send his approach to ten feet before rolling in the putt.
He continued to give himself outside birdie chances over the next few holes but had to settle for four straight pars before making his next gain from five feet at the long 15th.
After surrendering a bogey at the 16th, his lead was cut to one, and he made a good up-and-down on the 17th to keep his nose in front.
Kinhult then finished with a flourish, sending his bunker shot on the 18th to tap-in range before closing with a birdie to take a two-shot lead into the final round.
"It was a bit more of a grind today," said Kinhult, who is searching for his first win since the 2019 Betfred British Masters. "The good was very good but I left myself in some tough positions as well and had to grind.
"I think I did pretty well. It feels like it was less greens in regulation and more pressure on the short game today.
"Sleeping on a lead is not easy, I think. It's only Saturday so it wasn't that bad - I actually slept all right last night and hope I will tonight again.
"I enjoy playing this golf course and I look forward to the challenge tomorrow."
