Local duo tied at the top

Last updated: 9th February 2013

South Africans Richard Sterne and Trevor Fisher Jr. go into the final round of the Joburg Open in a tie for the lead after both players recorded rounds of 68 on Saturday.

The pair goes into Sunday's final round on 19-under, five shots ahead of three more South Africans - Charl Schwartzel, George Coetzee and Jaco Van Zyl - as well as Chilean Felipe Aguilar.

Schwartzel also carded a near-faultless 68 as well, although things almost unraveled for the 2011 Master champion when he sent his approach wide of the green on the par-five final hole.

Schwartzel on the last two events he played in by a combined total of 23 shots, although he would need a minor miracle to overhaul both Sterne and Fisher.

Coetzee had a mostly frustrating day, but birdied the last three holes to keep himself near the top of the leaderboard.

Sterne and Fisher both took turns to lead the event throughout the round, although consecutive bogeys from Fisher followed by a Sterne birdie on the 11th handed the latter the lead going into the last few holes of the round.

Fisher was soon back on track though and birdied twice more to close the gap once more.

Both players then birdied the last hole to ensure that Sunday's final round is likely going to be a shootout between the two.

"A bit of nerves set in there. You try not to think about the lead, but it's there in front of you. I was a bit jumpy with the swing and wasn't waiting at the top, so I hit a few bad shots there. But I came back nicely with a few birdies. It's just a feeling, and you've got to try and feel comfortable out there as much as possible," Fisher said after his round.

Aguilar also shot a 68, while Van Zyl's round of 67 was only bettered by Garth Mulroy and Thomas Aiken - who fired 65 and 66 respectively - to finish in a tie for eighth on 12-under.