Alfred Dunhill SA PGA Championship
Houghton Golf Club
Johannesburg, South Africa
12th - 15th February 1998

Par 72 Prize Money £400,000

Third Round Report

Third Round Scores - incomplete
Second Round
Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores - incomplete

Johnstone opens a seven shot lead

Johannesburg, South Africa, 14th February 1998 - Tony Johnstone of Zimbabwe opened a seven-stroke lead today in the third round of the rain-delayed Alfred Dunhill PGA Championship.

Storms on Thursday and Friday caused play to be far behind schedule, with most golfers finishing their second rounds this morning, then playing their third rounds before darkness halted play at the Houghton Golf Club.

Half the field of 78 that survived the cut finished the third round.

Johnstone was on the 15th hole when his round ended, 5-under par for the day and 17-under for the tournament.

Ernie Els of South Africa and Scott Dunlap of the United States were tied for second at 10-under.

Phillip Price of Wales was another stroke back, one shot ahead of defending champion Nick Price of Zimbabwe.

The third and final rounds will be completed Sunday.

If Johnstone wins, it will be his first victory on the European PGA tour in six years. The European PGA plays a few tournaments in southern Africa each year.

Johnstone shot 68 and 64 for a 12-under total of 132 and a three-stroke lead heading into today's play. He fired a 2-under 34 on the front nine, then birdied three of the first four on the back nine to pull away from the field.

Among those completing the third round was Greg Norman of Australia. He had a 68 but was 11 strokes back.