EAST LONDON, South Africa (AP) — Thomas Aiken shot a 4-under 69 Saturday to share the lead after the third round of the Africa Open with Trevor Fisher Jr., who caddied for him in last year's CA Championship on the U.S. PGA Tour.
Fisher Jr. (71) and Aiken are at 16-under 203 at East London Golf Club to lead Jbe' Kruger (67) by a stroke. Jake Roos (66) and Charl Schwartzel (68) are two strokes back.
Aiken had an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to move from a tie for third, while Fisher Jr. made four birdies and two bogeys after being the second-round leader.
"I had a bit of a stomach bug during the night and I didn't sleep well," Fisher Jr. said. "I also had some hot flushes before I teed off, so I lay down for a bit in the car. But maybe it was good for me, because I was pretty relaxed out there.
"I think Thomas and I will relax each other (in the final round)."
Aiken finished seventh in the 2009 CA Championship with Fisher Jr. carrying his clubs.
"That was a turning point in my career," Aiken said.
Aiken went eagle-bogey-birdie in the first three holes before making nine straight pars. A run of three straight birdies from the 15th brought what he called his best shot of the day.
"I hit a 6-iron off the 17th to two feet, and that was a good shot off an elevated tee into the wind," Aiken said. "It was a pretty daunting shot."
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke had a triple-bogey on the last hole to shoot a 71, seven strokes behind the leaders.
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