Kenya Savannah Classic 2021 R3
March 18-21
Karen Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya
€1,000,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Justin Harding is 18 holes away from claiming back-to-back titles in the space of five days after the South African opened up a three-shot lead over an otherwise packed leaderboard heading into the final day of the Kenya Savannah Classic supported by Absa.

Kenya Savannah Classic 2021 R3

“Maybe it's a bit of a surprise to be three clear because I feel like I struggled a bit out there. I couldn't seem to give myself a good number from the fairway and when you're playing at altitude and, as hot as the ball is out here, sometimes it's hard to get the club selection right."

The 35-year-old lifted his second European Tour title last week in the Magical Kenya Open presented by Johnnie Walker, having converted a two-stroke advantage heading into the final day. Now, in the second successive event at the beautiful Karen Country Club, Harding has an even bigger lead as he targets a third victory in three years on the Tour.

Kenya Savannah Classic 2021 R3

"After I bogeyed 14 unnecessarily it was anyone's game, I was just happy with the way I finished and I just gave myself a chance. I've got no idea, I seem to be having a good gameplan around here and ultimately I'm probably executing more shots. I've hit it good off the tee, maybe not quite as good into the greens but I bailed myself out a couple of times with the putter."

"This morning it felt like everyone was going bananas, so it was a tricky day. I think my par save on eight was a bit of a booster. I think missing a short one on seven but then making that on eight and avoiding the bogey was at least a big plus."

Kenya Savannah Classic 2021 R3

Should he win, it would be the third time he was won back-to-back events - which he achieved on both the Sunshine Tour and the Asian Tour in 2018, all in the space of two months. A five under 66 moved him to 17 under par, three clear of a bunch of six players who share second spot on 14 under.

They include five-time winner Darren Fichardt - the South African making his 401st European Tour appearance this week - and five players who have yet to win on Tour, including David Drysdale - playing in his 519th event.

Kenya Savannah Classic 2021 R3