Charl Schwartzel will look to start 2016 off with a win when he takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the Tshwane Open.

The 2011 Masters champion heads the field on nine under par, one stroke clear of young star Zander Lombard.

Schwartzel signed for a composed 66 yesterday, while Lombard, who is still nursing a spider bite to his left hand, surged up the leaderboard with a 63.

And both players will be looking forward to being paired together in the final round.

“I like playing with the new guys, and it’s good for me. It makes me work harder,” said Schwartzel.

“It’ll be great to play with Charl on the final day, just to see how he does things. He’s one of South Africa’s best and I look up to him,” added Lombard.

Schwartzel’s ball striking has been sublime this week, and he’ll hope his putter warms up on the final day to match this.

“I’m happy about the ball striking because it shows some consistency. You’re never sure what to expect your first tournament out, but this is a good start,” he said.

Lombard is hoping to apply the lessons he’s learnt from some near misses over the last few months.

He finished fourth in December’s Australian PGA Championship and then second in January’s Joburg Open.

“I won a lot as an amateur and was in contention a lot, but to be in contention at tour level is a new experience. I’ve learnt in terms of how to control my thoughts over the last round, to stick to my processes and to let the ball do the talking.”

Further down the leaderboard, Haydn Porteous and Anthony Michael are also still very much in the hunt on six under par.

Local favourite and defending champion George Coetzee is seven shots off the lead.