South Africa’s Ernie Els is flying the flag on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
The Big Easy fired a third round 65, for a three shot lead going into the final round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in New York.
The South African rolled in five consecutive birdies from the second through to the sixth holes.
Then capped off his day with a birdie on the 18th to leave him at 11 under overall, three strokes ahead of American Cameron Beckman who carded a 69.
In Europe, Australia’s Lucas Herbert has won the Irish Open at County Kilkenny in Ireland.
Herbert returned a final round 68 for a three shot win over Swede Rikard Karlberg.
Herbert started the final round with a one shot lead over his playing partner Johannes Veerman and he kept his mental game in check to maintain his advantage for the better part of the day, in wet conditions at the Mount Juliet Estate.
He started solidly with back to back birdies on the second and third holes but a bogey on the par five fifth hole would see him turn in 35.
The Aussie, who won his first title on the European Tour, defeating South Africa’s Chriatiaan Bezuidenhout in a play-off at the Dubai Desert Classic last year strengthened his advantage picking up strokes at the 10th, the 15th and the 17th holes taking a three shot cushion into his final hole the 18th.
The Aussie finished with a par on the 18th to sign for a 68, and a total of 269, 19 under par sealing a three stroke victory over Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg.
It’s his second win on the Tour as well as his second wire-to-wire win this season.
Looking to get his career back on track, Karlburg ended the day in some style with a chip in for birdie on the 18th, returning a 67 to secure second place.
South African Justin Harding who was just three shots off the pace overnight, produced one of the shots of the day at the par three 14th but only managed to finshed tied for 23rd place with compatriot Bezuidenhout 10 shots adrift.
