Maritz vaults into lead with 63

South African Martin Maritz has given himself a great chance of securing his first ever Tour title, after carding a 63 on Saturday to open up a two shot lead at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The tournament has already thrown up one surprise package in the form of England's Sandeep Grewal, however it is the 24-year-old from Pretoria that is in the driving seat going into the final day.

Former US Open champion Ernie Els meanwhile fired a nine-under-par 63 in Johannesburg, to leave the rest of the field in no doubt that he can still capture his first title of the year.

Eight birdies in the first 11 holes laid the foundation for Maritz's excellent round, another birdie on 16 sending him clear of England's Mark Foster at 17-under-par.

Foster has yet to drop a shot since he teed off on Thursday and the 26-year-old moved to 15-under-par, courtesy of seven birdies dotted throughout his round of 65.

The 20-year-old Grewal kept up the form he showed on Friday to fire a 68, leaving him just three shots off the pace at 14-under-par.

The qualifier bagged five birdies, a bogey on 13th the only black spot in an impressive showing.

Els failed to capitalise on his opening round of 68, a 72 on Friday leaving him six shots off the halfway lead. He slipped into gear though early in his third round, with three birdies in succession.

Two more birdies were marred by two dropped shots going into the turn, however he bagged four birdies and an eagle on the last to put himself on the 13-under-par mark.

Overnight leader Roger Wessels joined Els with a patchy round of 69, while first round leader Paul McGinley and England's Justin Rose also lie just four shots behind Maritz.

Both players fired rounds of 66 to challenge the leaders, with Rose picking up three birdies each on the front and back nine.

Welshman Mark Mouland is alone on 12-under-par, with US Open champion Retief Goosen one of two players on 11-under-par.

He simply dropped too many shots to make a serious charge, however he could change all that on Sunday with an early birdie barrage.

Local lad James Kingston finally will remember his round fondly, after he landed a hole-in-one on the 15th to win an Audi TT car.

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