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PHUKET, Thailand -- South African Richard Sterne held a one-shot lead after the third round of the Johnnie Walker Classic, turning in his second consecutive 8-under 64 on Saturday. The $2.45 million tournament is sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Australasian Tour.

Sterne, who is at 13-under 203 for the three days at the Blue Canyon Country Club, was one shot ahead of second-round leader Oliver Wilson of Britain. South African Anton Haig was a shot further behind at 205, followed by Richard Lee of New Zealand at 207.

Retief Goosen was five shots off the lead at 208, Colin Montgomerie was at 209 and Ernie Els was at 210.

World No. 8 Goosen struggled for consistency throughout his disappointing round of 72 and bogeyed the last to finish on level par for the day despite collecting six birdies on his way round Blue Canyon.

"I didn't play well enough, simple as that," said a downbeat Goosen. "I started off good and then suddenly it went a bit pear-shaped.

"I'm five shots off the lead; I think the tournament is pretty much gone for me," he added. "I will just try to play well tomorrow and see where we finish."

Montgomerie shot 70, which ended with two successive birdies but was spoiled by a double bogey at the par-4 16th.

England's Simon Hurd leapt up the leaderboard after a 6-under round to join Els and Scotland's Stephen Gallacher at 6 under.

Hurd was 2 under for the front nine, despite a bogey at the par-4 eighth, before four birdies on the way home saw the 31-year-old finish with a 66. Gallacher, who plummeted down the leaderboard following a 4-over second round, recovered and carded a 68.

"It was a nice round; I played well and putted good. It came as quite a surprise, I played well in the first few weeks but in the last two weeks I've not scored very well," said Hurd. "I got on a roll early doors, made a good 2 at the second, which is a real tough flag, and that kick-started me from there. I played solid after that and hit 15 greens."

Sterne started so poorly on Thursday, with a 75, that he packed his bags in anticipation of an early exit from the tournament.

"After shooting 3 over, I'd actually brought my bags to the golf course on Friday because the flight was at 8:00 p.m.," he said. "A bit of a change around, but I have played good golf and I made good putts and that sort of makes a big difference."

Meanwhile, Wilson revealed that simple hard work has been the key to his rise to the upper eaches of the leaderboard. Wilson, who led on 10 under heading into the third day, was on course to join Sterne as the joint overnight leader, but a bogey at the 17th, after making the turn in 3-under 33, ruined his perfect round.

The 26-year-old, who was a member of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team in 2003 and lost to Paul Casey in a playoff at the 2006 Volvo China Open, finished tied for 31st at last month's Dubai Dessert Classic.

"Since towards the end of last year, probably August, I've been playing really good, I've just not been putting well, and that's been the difference. I started the year well, solidly in the middle of the pack every week," said Wilson. "But I've managed to put a bit more work in on my short game and I've started to forget about my swing now, which is really paying off.

"I holed a few more putts and that's the difference from being middle of the pack to where I am right now," he added. "I'm not there yet but I'm definitely getting more comfortable and especially in this kind of situation, I'm getting more comfortable and more relaxed out there.

"But I really struggled concentrating on the back nine. I hit some good shots, but I was really struggling to keep my concentration," he explained. "That's why it's a shame on 17, I just couldn't see a shot."

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