Oosthuizen, Schwartzel share 5-shot lead before final round of Dunhill Championship

Updated Dec. 9, 2023 11:49 a.m. ET

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MALELANE, South Africa (AP) — South African pair Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel will take a shared five-stroke lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Oosthuizen tied the course record on Saturday after shooting 9-under 63 at Leopard Creek Country Club. He hit an eagle on the par-4 sixth hole to go with seven birdies in a flawless third round.

Schwartzel, a four-time winner of the event, went 7-under 65 for the round that included an eagle and a bogey to finish level with Oosthuizen at 15 under overall.

Oosthuizen has twice finished runner-up at the European tour event.

“It’s the one event that I’ve really wanted on my CV,” he said. “I’ve come close a few times and I’ve messed it up a lot of times so, tomorrow, if I can stay calm like I did today and do the same things and give myself opportunities on the greens I think I’ve got a good shot.”

Countryman Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Andy Sullivan of England were their nearest chasers at 10 under.

Schwartzel said he and Oosthuizen were friends.

“We’re both playing well so it probably comes down to the guy who makes the least mistakes tomorrow,” Schwartzel said.

This is the final of three events in South Africa to start the European tour season. There is another tournament in Africa — the Mauritius Open next week — before the tour takes a break until mid-January ahead of events in the Gulf region.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Charl Schwartzel

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