Four share lead into final round

Tim Clark is confident he can repeat his 2002 victory in Durban after shooting 68 to move into the joint lead after three rounds of the South African Open on Saturday.

Four South Africans lead on nine-under par 207, Clark, Titch Moore (72), Tjaart van der Walt (70) and Hendrik Buhrmann (70) at the par-72 Durban Country Club.

Englishman Graeme Storm produced a steady 69 to move to eight-under par 208, while Ulsterman Darren Clarke returned a score of 67 to move to three-under for the tournament.

Clark will go into Sunday's final round with some advantage having won his maiden European Tour title in the same tournament and at the same venue the last time the Open was played in Durban.

"I think having won here before I will sleep easier tonight," Clark said. "The last time I was in this position I shot seven-under in the final round so I am certainly going to be very confident tomorrow."

Clark, who has earned over $1 million in each of the past two seasons on the United States PGA Tour, produced four birdies in the only bogey-free round of the day among the leaders.

Van der Walt, also a card-carrying member on the U.S. Tour, is a member at Durban Country Club, which he felt could be to his advantage in the final round.

"It's important for me to have the support of the locals because it lifts my spirits," said Van der Walt, who due to a wrist injury last played four competitive rounds in the 2004 British Open.

Moore failed with a five-foot birdie putt on the last to take the outright lead, completing a disappointing day that yielded just three birdies, but three bogeys.

Buhrmann played the more difficult front nine in two-under par 34 but could not maintain the momentum on the inward half with one birdie and one bogey.

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