Donald Up by One at Nedbank Golf Challenge


Luke Donald followed up his second-round 9-under 63 with a 69 Saturday to forge a one-stroke lead in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. The limited-field, 30-player event is being held at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa.

After carding nine birdies Friday, the 36-year-old Donald added five more birdies but dropped two shots with a pair of bogeys on the back nine to reach a 54-hole total of 13-under 203, a mere shot ahead of fellow Brit Danny Willett, who had Saturday's low round of 65, and three ahead of Englishman Ross Fisher, who had his second straight 70 after starting with a 66.

"I'm pretty pleased with the score," Donald told the European Tour's website. "I could have played a little bit more solid on the back nine, but to be honest, around this course, with a lead, shooting 69, that's kind of what the game plan was, to go out and shoot a low round and keep myself ahead and in position for tomorrow."

Donald was also pleased to cap off his round off with a birdie on the last. "I did that and felt pretty calm out there, and it was nice to finish with a three."

Donald, a former No. 1, is happy to be back in contention again and looks forward to going head to head against Willett on Sunday. "I'm excited to be in that position again. That's why we work hard and that's why we practice so much, and I'm excited for the challenge tomorrow. It will be nice playing with some of my compatriots, and we'll have some fun out there."

Fisher believes he has a chance to overcome the three-shot deficit to Donald if he can recapture the magic he had Thursday. "(Sunday) is going to be a big day," the 34-year-old said.

"I just need to go out and play how I've been playing the first three days and how I putted on the first day. If I do that, I feel like I've got a really good chance of winning it."

Trailing Donald by eight strokes is Germany's Marcel Siem, who carded a 71, while nine behind are Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee (71) and South African Louis Oosthuizen (69).

Another stroke further down the leaderboard sit Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat (68), South Africa's Tim Clark (72) and Spainiard Miguel Angel Jimenez (69).

After rising into contention thanks to a 68 Friday, American Brendon Todd went the opposite direction following a 75 and is now at even-par 216. Brooks Koepka, a 24-year-old Floridian recently named the European Tour's 2014 Rookie of the Year, also had a 75 and enters the final round at 219.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2014095/leaderboard/index.html.