South African Richard Sterne scored a second successive record-equalling eight-under round of 64 yesterday at the US$2.44-million Johnnie Walker Classic, and heads the field going into today's final round.

On a sunny but breezy day at the Blue Canyon Country Club, Sterne propelled himself into prime position on 13-under 203. He leads by one stroke from joint overnight leader Oliver Wilson of England, who carded a 70.

It was a big turnaround for the 25-year-old from Pretoria, who had packed his bags a day earlier in anticipation of a quick departure for home after he opened his campaign with a 75.

Another young South African, Anton Haig - a winner on the Asian Tour last year - stayed within striking distance, after battling to a 70 to lie two back, while New Zealander Richard Lee, who won the Thailand Open at Blue Canyon in 2005, was fourth, four off the pace after a 70.

Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen slipped back to fifth with a disappointing 72.

Sterne struggled to piece his game together on Thursday. But in an amazing transformation, he has been bogey free over his last two rounds, snaring another brilliant eight birdies yesterday, highlighted by bursts of three straight birdies on both nines.

"I'd actually brought my bags to the golf course on Friday because the flight was at 8pm, so I wouldn't have made it going back to the hotel first. A bit of a changearound, but I have played good golf and I made good putts and that sort of makes a big difference," said Sterne.

"On Thursday, things just didn't go my way. Last two days, they have. So no bogeys, I think 16 birdies, just sort of ended up nicely."

With golf being such as fickle game, as he would attest to, Sterne - who won the 2004 Madrid Open for his lone European Tour success - knows he must hold up to the challenges from the chasing pack. "I'm quite excited. You know, anything can happen. You can go out there and shoot another 64. You can go out there and shoot 74. I don't get my hopes up too much. This game can change around very quickly," said Sterne.

It's been almost three years since Sterne won that title in Madrid. The English-based player hopes that the form that led him to further titles in the Vodacom Championship and the Telkom PGA back home in South Africa will boost his confidence here.

Wilson, chasing his first professional victory after an impressive amateur career, had the tournament firmly in his grip with an outward 33, leading by three at one stage, before slipping back. He was lucky to survive a bogey on the demanding 221-yard par-three 17th, where he sprayed his four-iron tee shot, the ball ending up next to a drink's can.

"I really struggled on the back nine with my concentration. I hit some good shots, but I was really, really struggling to keep concentration. I just couldn't see a shot going into 17," said the 26-year-old.

Haig, two shots behind his countryman Sterne, believes the chance to lift the trophy today is still within his reach.

"I'm happy with my performance. I'm still up there. I haven't been too far away, and hopefully I can do what I did today and hole a few more putts."

Goosen sank birdies in the opening three holes, only to post bogeys at the next three and ending his round on even par for a total of eight-under 208.

"I didn't play well enough, simple as that. I started off good and then suddenly it went a bit pear-shaped. Five shots off the lead, I think the tournament is pretty much gone for me. I'll just try to play a good round tomorrow and see where we finish," said the winner of the Tiger Skins here in 2005.

South African Ernie Els, after two quiet days, finally regained his composure as he improved by three shots with a 67 to be tied for 11th. The world No 6 reeled off three successive birdies from the 13th to 15th and ended six-under overall.

"I played really good today. I could have made a lot more birdies today, but missed quite a few putts. I hit the ball nicely and I'm happy with the way I played," said the two-time champion from 1997 and 2003.

Adam Scott of Australia looked to be on the rise until he bogeyed the last three holes to finish with a disappointing 70 for an aggregate three-under 213. The defending champion is labouring in 30th place.

The local challenge in the star-studded field collapsed as Thongchai Jaidee, Thammnoon Srirot and Thaworn Wiratchant were all over par yesterday. Thongchai slipped from sixth to 39th after scoring a 76 for two-under 214. Thammanoon and Thaworn were also nowhere near their best, shooting 75 for 216 and 76 for 217, respectively.

"I made 34 putts the whole day, which was my worst performance in the past six to seven weeks. But I will fight hard tomorrow, even if I know there is no chance to catch the leaders," said Thongchai.

Veteran Wang Ter-chang from Taiwan and China's Liang Wen-chong are the best-placed Asian contenders in the event, in joint sixth place on seven-under 209 alongside Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, Briton Graeme Storm and Australia's Aron Price.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

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