WILTSHIRE players David Howell and Laurie Canter were both in sight of finishes inside the top 20 after the third round at the Tshwane Open in South Africa today.

Swindon's Howell, in his second tournament this year since returning from a month-long injury lay-off, birdied four of his final five holes today to reach five under par and lie just outside the top 20 in Pretoria.

Canter, from the Cumberwell Park club near Bradford on Avon, followed up his superb seven-under-par round of 64 on Friday with a 69 to lie tied 13th.

Howell, who had completed four rounds in a European Tour event for the first time since the middle of October at last week's Qatar Masters, started his third round on two under par after back-to-back rounds of 70 on Thursday and Friday.

Little appeared to be happening in today's 18 holes as he bogeyed the fourth hole but repaired the damage with a birdie at the short eighth to reach the turn in 35.

The two-time Ryder Cup winner slipped back to one under par overall with a bogey at the short 11th, but his round was transformed by the late blitz, which started with a birdie at the short 14th.

After parring 15, Howell then finished two, three four on the final three holes to card a 68 and move to five under overall.

Canter, who had shot the joint-best round of the week on Friday, delivered more fireworks on his opening hole this morning, which he birdied, but handed it straight back by bogeying the second.

Thereafter progress was steady for the 28 year old, who birdied the sixth and then parred the next 11 holes before signing for a 69 after a birdie on the long final hole.