CHARLOTTE (North Carolina), May 7: Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman kept the South African flag flying high with strong finishes in the Wachovia Championship third round on Saturday.

Twice US Open winner Goosen reeled off seven birdies in the last nine holes for a seven-under-par 65, ending a day of low scoring tied for second with his compatriot at 10-under 206.

Immelman picked up four shots over the treacherous closing stretch at Quail Hollow Club for a 66, signing off in style by rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt at the last.

The South African duo will start final round one stroke behind American Jim Furyk.

Leading third round scores:

205 --Jim Furyk (US) 68, 69, 68.

206 –Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70, 71, 65; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 68, 72, 66.

207 -- Bo Van Pelt (US) 70, 64, 73.

208 -- Shaun Micheel (US) 70, 70, 68.

209 -- Adam Scott (Australia) 71, 72, 66; Lucas Glover (US) 69, 73, 67.

210 -- Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 72, 71, 67; Steve Lowery (US) 73, 68, 69; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 71, 68, 71.

211 -- Brett Quigley (US) 74, 68, 69; Bill Haas (US) 68, 72, 71; Vaughn Taylor (US) 70, 70, 71; J.J. Henry (US) 73, 67, 71; Jay Haas (US) 75, 71, 65; Davis Love III (US) 69, 69, 73.

212 -- Justin Rose (Britain) 70, 74, 68; Jerry Kelly (US) 73, 70, 69; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 71, 71, 70; Kevin Sutherland (US) 71, 71, 70.

213 -- John Senden (Australia) 71, 73, 69; Tom Lehman (US) 75, 69, 69; Ken Duke (US) 72, 71, 70; Charles Warren (US) 73, 70, 70; Joey Sindelar (US) 71, 74, 68; D.J. Trahan (US) 72, 70, 71; Stuart Appleby (Australia) 72, 67, 74.

214 -- Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) 73, 71, 70; Jason Gore (US) 74, 70, 70; Tim Clark (South Africa) 73, 70, 71; Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 68, 73, 73.—Reuters