England’s Tommy Fleetwood birdied the last hole in a score of 69 to take a one shot lead on day three of the Volvo Champions event in Durban.
Fleetwood, 22 broke clear of Dutchman Joost Luiten (70) and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (69) tied in second place on nine under par in the elite 36-player event being staged on the Durban Country Club course.
Defending champion, Louis Oosthuizen was left counting the cost of having to take an ‘unplayable’ penalty shot that led to triple bogey at the 16th hole in a round of 71 to slip to fourth place on eight under par.
Tommy Fleetwood jumps into the driver’s seat with a round to play in 2014 Volvo Champions. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
The former British Open winner, who has not tasted success since winning the event a year ago, had just birdied the 15th to move to 10-under par prior to the mishap at the next.
“I did not hit the ball great off the tee today, so I had a few wayward ones including the one at 16,” he said.
“I had a look where the ball was lying in the bushes but there was no way I could get a club to it, so I decided to call it unplayable.
“I know I came from five back last year to win but you don’t want to give yourself unnecessary work to do. I had a good opportunity today to go to 12-under at least.
“But then a hole like 16 just gets you back into perspective but to then par 17 and birdie 18 was important.”
Fleetwood is a former Walker Cup player and joined the European Tour full-time in 2012 after finishing the previous season the leading money-earning on the secondary Challenge Tour.
The current World No. 118 qualified for the event in winning last September’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland, and now after a further 10 events he is primed to win for a second occasion.
“It would be awesome if I could win again, as all I want to do is win golf tournaments,” he said.
“That’s the best reason to win beating everybody over the week and it gives you so much joy.
“So it would mean a lot, and with it being the first tournament of the year as I haven’t played for five week. It would be a very happy way if I came away with the trophy tomorrow.”
Dubuisson heads into the final day looking to reinforce his potential to qualify automatically for this year’s European Ryder Cup team.
The quietly-spoken Cannes-born golfer made a loud impact in defeating the likes of Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter to capture last November’s inaugural Turkish Airlines Open.
Dubuisson arrived in South Africa third overall on the European Team points table and would move to the top with victory in Durban.
