The former Bloemfontein professional shot a six-under-par 64 to go into the final round with a one-stroke lead at the Wild Coast Country Club.

Viljoen started his second round on the 10th hole and blazed his way to the turn in just 29 strokes, collecting six birdies, including three in a row from the 16th. Although the strengthening of the wind meant his score of six-under stayed where it was on his inward nine due to one bogey, on the par-three sixth, being cancelled out by a birdie on the par-five seventh, the Serengeti Golf Estate representative had still done enough to hold off the challenge of Keenan Davidse.

Viljoen is on 11-under-par for the tournament, while Davidse had a more up-and-down day, with five birdies, three bogies and an eagle on the par-five 16th, leaving with him an excellent 66 that lifted him to 10-under overall.

“I was solid all day and I didn’t make mistakes. But I enjoyed my front nine a lot today, I was just hitting the ball so nicely and I felt in such control of things,” Viljoen said.

“And then I got a bit excited and the wind got up on my back nine and put me on the back foot a bit.

“But I’ve been struggling for a couple of years now and I just had to make a change last week because I was placing myself under so much pressure. So I worked with a different coach in Dougie Wood, just for a different perspective.

“The change obviously paid off today so I will stick with it. How I felt on the golf course was more favourable,” Viljoen said.

Viljoen, who won his only Sunshine Tour title at the Sun Fish River Challenge in 2017, said his approach in Friday’s final round will be to try and replicate his outstanding form on holes 10 to 18 on Thursday.

“I was just focused on not making any mistakes, I hit the ball good and my putting and chipping were good too. So I will go out in the final round and try do what I did on the first two days.

“The big thing is I’m not worried about the outcome because I know I’ve improved, I’ve got something out of the last couple of weeks, and that’s more than enough for me. That gives me a head start, I reckon,” Viljoen said.

Apart from Davidse, Martin Vorster and Jaco Ahlers are also chasing hard on nine-under-par after they both shot 65s on Thursday, and Madalitso Muthiya (68), Heinrich Bruiners (67), Casey Jarvis (66), and Christiaan Burke (65) are just three strokes back on eight-under.

Overnight leader Jacques Blaauw had a tough time on Thursday and just could not get going, 16 pars and two bogies leaving him with a 72 that saw him slip down to six-under-par and a tie for 13th.

 SCORES:

129 - MJ Viljoen 65 64

130 - Keenan Davidse 64 66

131 - Martin Vorster 66 65, Jaco Ahlers 66 65

132 - Madalitso Muthiya 64 68, Heinrich Bruiners 65 67, Casey Jarvis 66 66, Christiaan Burke 67 65

133 - Luke Jerling 66 67, Jordan Duminy 64 69, Pieter Moolman 65 68, Jaco Van Zyl 65 68

134 - Fredrik From 67 67, Jacques Blaauw 62 72, Joe Long 67 67

135 - Michael Kok 66 69, Anthony Michael 68 67, Kyle Barker 65 70, Steve Surry 70 65, Merrick Bremner 68 67

136 - Ryan Van Velzen 66 70, Stefan Wears-Taylor 69 67, Neil Schietekat 64 72, Herman Loubser 69 67, Ockie Strydom 68 68, Clancy Waugh 71 65, Stephen Ferreira 68 68, Wynand Dingle 67 69, Luca Filippi 68 68

137 - CJ du Plessis 66 71, Harry Konig 65 72, Dwayne Basson 68 69, Malcolm Mitchell 70 67, Adam Breen 69 68, Franklin Manchest 66 71, Jean-Paul Strydom 69 68, Rourke van der Spuy 69 68, Louis Albertse 69 68

138 - Andre De Decker 71 67, Jacquin Hess 67 71, Sean Bradley 69 69, Keelan van Wyk 65 73