PAARL, South Africa -- Oliver Wilson shot a 5-under 67 Saturday to take a one-shot lead after the third round of the South African Airways Open. This event, the South African national championship, is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and southern Africa's Sunshine Tour.
Wilson is at 4-under 212 going into the final round, with halfway leader James Kingston in second place. Garth Mulroy is alone in third, two shots back.
Mulroy had the best round of the day with eight birdies for a 64 on the windy 7,394-yard Pearl Valley Golf Estates, to make up for an opening-round 80.
"On this course, you have to just let it come to you," Wilson said. "It's a different level of concentration where you're not trying to force anything, but rather just hit one shot at a time. There are a couple of holes where you feel like you can make birdie, but even if you make par you're quite happy. There's a lot of trouble out there."
Defending champion Ernie Els equaled his opening-round score of 77, after he had hauled himself back into contention with a 70 on Friday. Els had three bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine, leaving him in 44th place.
Greg Norman stayed in contention with a 72 to sit five shots off the lead, while U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera remained at 9 over with his 72. First-round leader Robert Rock (71) is four shots behind Wilson.
Wilson was on form as he carded five birdies in a bogey-free round to set himself up nicely for the final day at Pearl Valley. But there are likely to be several challengers on the final day after much calmer weather led to more than 20 players shooting under-par rounds, compared to the first two days that left only three competitors under par for the tournament.
Two-time winner Retief Goosen carded a 2-under round of 70 left him 2 over for the competition. Two late bogeys left Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke a shot further back on 3 over.
However, it was 27-year-old Wilson who gave himself the best chance of a first career win with his outstanding round.
"I'm very happy with my round. I am actually quite pleased with how the week's going on; it's getting a little better each day and hopefully it carries on like that," he said. "I was struggling with my swing a little bit but I think the wind's kind of helped. My short game's been really solid this week.
"I managed to get of to a good start, especially on this course if you get 1 under early, it tends to relax you a little more and there's a few key holes out there and if you can get through those without many mistakes, you can actually make some good scores, which I managed to do," he explained. "I played all the key holes really well and hopefully I can do it again on Sunday."
As for his approach on Sunday, he added: "Sunday, it's just me against me. Hopefully my swing will get a little bit better. We're going to get working on it again.
"It was bad last week as well, I played awful from tee to green, not very good so far this week, but I just managed to get it up and down and have a good attitude," he said. "I've just got to do the same again and not put too much pressure on myself and just go and play."
His biggest challenger, Kingston added: "I'm chasing and I already feel comfortable starting from behind. I played nice and solid after a not so good start. I pulled it back together and kept myself in contention all day.
"It was a tough day and to me it was the toughest round of the tournament. But now I'm one shot behind and I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I feel I can be a little more aggressive and there is really a lot to play for."
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