JOHANNESBURG - Chris Paisley leads by a shot from home favorite Branden Grace going into the final round of the South African Open.
Paisley remained calm in a 2-under 70 in the third round on Saturday to move to 15 under overall and took the outright lead after sharing it with Adrien Saddier overnight.
England’s Paisley is in position for his maiden European Tour title but will face a challenge from the in-form Grace on the last day.
Grace won the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in November, and surged into contention at the South African Open with a third-round 66, with seven birdies and just one bogey to go to 14 under.
''I’m sure the crowd is going to be on his side,’' Paisley said. ''I’m just really excited about it.’'
Full-field scores from the BMW South African Open
Three players are tied for third on 12 under and three shots off the lead. They are Saddier, Chase Koepka and Jacques Blaauw.
Koepka, the younger brother of U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, put together a 68 on Saturday and is in his first season on the European Tour and also searching for a first victory.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen was tied for fourth after the second round at Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg but his search for a first win since 2009 took a hit with a 1-over 73 Saturday. Goosen is now tied for 20th.