Getty Images

South African golfing prowess was in evidence again at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Saturday as James Kingston surged to an early third round lead.

Abu Dhabi – South African golfing prowess was in evidence again at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Saturday as James Kingston surged to an early third round lead.

The 46-year-old from Rustenburg came out firing with five birdies in an outward half of 31 to leapfrog into the lead at eight under par.

A win for him here on Sunday would make it an unprecedented four out of four victories this season for South Africans on the European Tour.

Louis Oosthuizen won the opening Africa Open in East London, while Brandan Grace went back-to-back at the Joburg Open and last week's Volvo Golf Champions at George.

Second round leader Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark stayed on seven under after five holes, level with Jean-Baptiste Gonnet of France, Paul Lawrie of Scotland and Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, playing together for the third straight day, were also both firmly in contention.

The Ulsterman, who won the US Open last year by eight strokes, had birdies at the first and fourth to get to seven under but gave one back at the sixth.

Woods, on the comeback trail here in his season opener after a disastrous 2011, opened with a birdie, then parred the next six holes to get to six under.

The American has looked well in control so far in Abu Dhabi, hitting 83.3 percent of greens in regulation and making just the two bogeys, both times failing to get up and down out of a bunker.

He has been circumspect in his comments saying he is simply concentrating on “plugging along and keep doing what I'm doing.”

“I feel like I'm swinging well and a lot of things that (coach) Sean (Foley) and I have been working on are starting to feel very comfortable and consequently I'm shooting good scores,” said Woods.

McIlroy has blown hot and cold so far with 13 birdies in his two rounds set against four bogeys and two double bogeys.

“Was busy making birdies, bogeys and others!! Need to limit mistakes at the weekend!” he said of his hopes for the weekend on his Twitter account.

Woods and McIlroy were just two of 30 players grouped within five shots of the lead at the start of the day including major winners Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Schwartzel and Lawrie.

World number one Luke Donald was making scant progress, staying at one under for the tournament through 13 holes, while number three, Lee Westwood, moved to three under from level par at the start of the day after 14 holes. – Sapa-AFP