Jamieson can follow Grace's lead

Scott Jamieson leads in Durban by five strokes
13 January 2013

One year on from last-man-in Branden Grace winning the Volvo Golf Champions, Scotland's Scott Jamieson could well do exactly the same thing at Durban Country Club on Sunday.

The 29-year-old from Glasgow will take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the European Tour's opening event of the year.

Jamieson, 15 under par after a 68, is part of the winners-only 33-man field thanks to his victory last month at the Nelson Mandela Championship - also staged in the South African city.

Grace left it even later to earn his spot 12 months ago, capturing the Joburg Open and then seven days later beating compatriots Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in a play-off at Fancourt.

The main threats to Jamieson in the race for the first prize of nearly £283,000 are 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Frenchman Julien Quesne.

They all stand 10 under, Quesne posting a 67, but Jaidee only a 73 and Oosthuizen a 74.

Jamieson came into the tournament as a member of the world's top 100 for the first time in his life - at 100th - but could end it with all manner of exciting possibilities opening up for him.

Never having played a world championship, he would be looking at a place in next month's 64-man Accenture Match Play in Arizona and being in the top 50 at the end of March would give him a dream debut in the US Masters at Augusta.

Not bad for someone who failed in his first three attempts to survive the European Tour qualifying school before coming through the Challenge Tour three years ago.

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