Coetzee claims share of the lead in Tampa Bay

European Tour Member George Coetzee will go into the final round of the Tampa Bay Championship presented by EverBank in a share of the lead after carding a round of 68 on day three of the US PGA Tour event.

The South African started the day five shots in arrears, but steadily made his way to the top of the leaderboard courtesy of birdies at the first, seventh, 11th and 17th holes, with a dropped shot at the 16th the only blemish in an otherwise flawless display at the Innisbrook Resort, in Florida, America.

That moved him to six under par alongside the American duo of Justin Leonard and Kevin Streelman.

Coetzee, who is playing under a sponsor’s invitation, was battling to make the cut until a blistering back nine on Friday, carding five birdies on the Copperhead course’s front side.

The World Number 42, a four-time winner on the Sunshine Tour in his native South Africa, has registered three top ten finishes on The European Tour so far this season, at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (tied second), the Joburg Open (tied third) and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship (tied ninth).

Defending champion Luke Donald of England is currently two shots off the lead after a round of 67, whilst Spaniard Sergio Garcia is a further stroke back on three under par.