Torrance shares Sun City lead

Golf

Golf

Sam Torrance continued his golden year by taking a share of the lead at the Sun City Million Dollar Challenge with a three-under-par 69. Torrance, runner-up to Colin Montgomerie in the European Order of Merit this year, set the pace alongside the US Open champion, Corey Pavin.

Pavin made three birdies in the last four holes to climb the leaderboard while Torrance missed a short putt at the last to tie with the American.

Montgomerie was struggling after a seven-over-par 79 and the Scot could not stop pushing shots to the right as he went out in 40. The defending champion, Nick Faldo, fared better with a level-par 72. Faldo was in touch with Torrance until he suffered a disastrous triple-bogey eight at the par-five ninth.

By contrast, Torrance made the only eagle of the day at the same hole, sinking a 20-foot putt after a superb long-iron shot from the fairway.