Haydn Porteous advanced 15 places on Saturday, but will start the final round of the British Masters six behind leaders Matt Wallace and Marcus Kinhult.
Wallace remains on course to mark the second anniversary of his first win on the European Tour with a fifth title as he heads into the final round at Southport. The Englishman earned his playing privileges in May 2017 when he won the dual-ranking Open de Portugal at Morgado Golf Resort in just his fourth European Tour start.
Two years and a further three titles later, the world No 36 finds himself at the top of the leaderboard alongside Swede Kinhult after posting a third-round 70 in front of a sell out crowd at Hillside Golf Club.
Halfway leader Wallace found himself three strokes ahead as he reached the turn on Saturday, but a nerveless display from Kinhult on the back nine meant he had company at the top of the leaderboard.
After making two birdies on the front nine, Kinhult made an eagle, three birdies, one bogey and a double bogey in his final nine holes to join Wallace on 14-under par.
Scot Richie Ramsay was two shots behind the leaders in third after Saturday’s 71, while tournament host Tommy Fleetwood and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre shared fourth place on 11-under.
South Africa’s best to date is Porteous, who was bogey-free in his third spin around Hillside. He turned -1 after a birdie at the second and added gains at 11 and 14 to push himself up the leaderboard.
With just four South Africans advancing to the weekend, the remaining three disappointed on Saturday as they all turned in post-70 rounds.
Jaco van Zyl (74) dropped 25 places to T48 with Dean Burmester down one to share 64th place.
Richard Sterne was the biggest loser after a 78 dropped him 53 places as he squandered a great chance to keep his spot near the top of the Race to Dubai list.
