Cameron Smith leads the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship by three shots after posting a third-round two-under-par 69 at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
The Australian carded six birdies and four bogeys on Saturday to head into the final round on 11 under par, with Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura and China’s Liu Yan Wei his nearest challengers on eight under.
Two-time DP World Tour winner Min Woo Lee and halfway leader Jason Scrivener were part of a four-strong group of Australians with Brad Kennedy and Jake McLeod a shot further back.
Smith, who won The Open Championship earlier this year, began day three a shot adrift of Scrivener, but was two ahead after he made his second birdie of the day at the fourth and his countryman made a bogey.
The Major winner made his third birdie of the day at the sixth to lead by three, before another followed at the seventh, but he bogeyed the par-five ninth to hit the turn in 33.
Back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th — where playing partner Kawamura made a birdie — saw Smith’s lead disappear.
But two birdies in a row from the 15th helped him open a four-stroke lead, before he bogeyed the 18th for the first time this week to sign for a 69.
Dubai based Adrian Meronk (Pol) shot a third round 74 to go along with his opening rounds of 68 and 67 to lie in tied 15th place.
Round Three Leaders (Par 71, 7134 Yards)
Cameron Smith (Aus) 68, 65, 69 = 202
Masahiro Kawamura (Jap) 68, 66, 71 = 205
Yan Wei Liu (China) 67, 68, 70 = 205
Jason Scrivener (Aus) 65, 67, 74 = 206
Brad Kennedy (Aus) 66, 70, 70 = 206
Jake McLeod (Aus) 70, 66, 70 = 206
Min Woo Lee (Aus) 65, 73, 68 = 206
