SA OPEN - Big final push at Glendower on Sunday

JOHANNESBURG, 10 January 2015 – Charl Schwartzel has a formidable lead in the 104th South African Open Championship, but 2011 winner Hennie Otto and three-time Sunshine Tour champion Louis de Jager finished in red numbers on Saturday and are ready for one big final push in Sunday’s final round.

Schwartzel carded a six-under-par 66 at Glendower Golf Club to finish at 13-under-par.

The South African, chasing his first national Open title, is five strokes clear of British pair, Matthew Fitzpatrick (67) from England and Scotsman David Drysdale (68).

Otto lags 10 off the pace after a colourful 70, while De Jager came home in 69 blows.

Three-time European Tour champion Otto got off to a birdie start, lost the advantage at the fourth, but hit back with a hat-trick of birdies before the turn. The Italian Open winner birdied the 12th and eagled the 13th to reverse a double bogey-bogey combination at the 10th and 11th. Otto birdied 15, but gave back the shot at the next hole.

“It was a bit topsy-turvy today,” he said. “The putter was a lot hotter, but I still left a few out there and I just gave too many shots back to the course.

“Hopefully I can get all the elements working together in the final round and post a nice, low score.”

De Jager bookended his round with a bogey start and birdie finish.

The 27-year-old Pretoria golfer mixed in a bogey at the 10th, birdies at the seventh and 11th and an eagle-three at the par-five 13th.

Fellow Lumenrock Sport Management International player Keith Horne carded a 72 to tie for 49th on one over.

Horne, who confessed a rusty swing on the eve of the championship, was thrilled that his swing was warming, even if it was a little late in the day.

“Each day the swing has improved, which is motivating, and hopefully I’ll have rust-free day in the final round,” the seven-time Sunshine Tour winner said.

Jaco van Zyl signed for a 75 and the multiple Sunshine Tour winner sits at four over in his first competitive start since knee surgery in November.