Other Tours

The round broke the Real course record by one and shaved a stroke off his lowest ever score on The European Tour - and it also took him from five behind at halfway into a one stroke lead over Scotland’s David Drysdale.

Last November's Volvo Masters champion grabbed seven birdies in a row, only one short of The Tour record, and then three holes later made a 45 foot eagle putt on the long 16th to reach 14 under par.

Another Scot, Alastair Forsyth, is at ten under along with local favourite Carlos Del Moral.

Kjeldsen is set to make his debut in the Masters Tournament in 12 days’ time having qualified for Augusta by finishing last year 50th on the World Rankings - by one hundredth of a point.

"I was told I was in by a guy who writes a website in Denmark, then he called again to say that he had it wrong and if Richard Sterne won in South Africa I would be 51st,” he said.

"I watched him make tons of birdies on the back nine, then win in a play-off, so went on a ten mile run on the beach screaming and shouting.

"I came back, settled down, went to bed and then the same guy rang at midnight to say he had it wrong and I was in.

"I was completely drained, but it's a dream to play there and I already have the invitation framed."

He will go in good form too. Two weeks ago he finished seventh in the World Golf Championships - CA Championship in Miami.

Drysdale, 34, is seeking his first Tour win and has made ten trips to Qualifying School, but he was second in the 2006 Russian Open and third at the Joburg Open in January.

He was level par for the day after ten holes of his third round but finished eagle-birdie-birdie to close in on Kjeldsen’s lead.

Forsyth was also at his best on the back nine, posting four birdies without dropping a shot for an inward 32.

An eagle at the par five 13th was the highlight of 23 year old Del Moral’s round. The Qualifying School graduate, who hails from Valencia, adding a 69 to his opening 70 and second round 67.