Six players are tied for the lead in the Tshwane Open where the top 26 players are covered by just five shots.

The chasers include European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, who came back from an early double bogey six, notching his fourth birdie of the day at the 18th to post a two under 68 and share 22nd place on four under par.

Winning would be asking a lot of Clarke, who hasn't had a Top 10 on the European Tour since he won The Open at Royal St George's in 2011.

Overnight leader Adrian Otaegui of Spain followed his Friday 62 with a 72 and ended the day tied for the lead on nine under par at Pretoria County Club with local boy George Coetzee (68), his fellow South Africans Wallie Coetsee (68) and Trevor Fisher Jnr (69), England’s David Horsey (69) and Scotland’s Craig Lee (66).

South Africans Ockie Strydom (67) and Erik van Rooyen (67) are only one behind the leaders on eight under with former Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari, France’s Raphaël Jacquelin and Dane Morten Ørum Madsen, who chipped in at the 16th, all tied for ninth on seven under.

Michael Hoey had four birdies, one bogey and a double bogey in 69 to move up 13 places to tied 39th on two under.