Trevor Fisher junior raised hopes of another South African victory in the Africa Open when he fired a third-round 63 on Saturday for a two-stroke lead.
The 35-year-old Johannesburg-based professional picked up an eagle and two birdies on the outward nine at a windy par-72 East London Golf Club course.
And birdies on five of the last eight holes equalled the lowest score of the week after German Maximilian Kieffer carded a second-round 63 Friday.
Fisher, at 16 under par, is two shots ahead of halfway leader Matt Ford (69) with a double-bogey six at eight proving costly for the Englishman.
Another South African, Jaco van Zyl (68), is two shots further back and would have been closer to Fisher had he sunk several short putts.
Spaniards Jorge Campillo (67) and Eduardo de la Riva (72), Dane Morten Madsen (64) and Englishman John Parry (69) are six shots off the pace.
South Africans have won every edition of the Africa Open since its 2008 debut, with the event joining the European Tour two seasons later.
The two previous title-holders in the field this year, Darren Fichardt and Shaun Norris, each carded a 73 and they are out of contention for first prize.
"I played solid, but did not expect to shoot a 63 in such tough conditions," admitted Fisher, who has won eight Sunshine Tour events but is chasing a maiden European Tour success.
"I will play my own game in the final round, taking it shot by shot. I will try not to get ahead of myself too much."
Ford, who qualified for the European Tour last November after 10 attempts, came badly unstuck at the par-four eighth.
After bunkering his approach shot, he took three more to get on the green before holing a tricky putt.
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke, who will skipper Europe in the 2016 Ryder Cup clash with the United States, had a 72 and is 12 strokes behind Fisher.
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