Englishman Richard Finch shot an eight-under-par 64 to grab a three-shot lead at the New Zealand Open on Saturday to put himself in the perfect position to win his first European PGA title.
The 30-year-old followed up his 65 from the second round with nine birdies and a single bogey to reach the clubhouse at 14-under-par, extending his lead with birdies at the last two holes.
‘I hit the fairways, hit it as near to the pin on the green as I could then tried to give myself a chance to drop the putts in,’ Finch told reporters.
‘I was looking at the leaderboard on the way round at about the 13th or 14th and thought that if I could press on over the last few holes and make a few birdies I could open up a bit of a lead.’
Australian Steven Bowditch, who led by a single stroke after the second round, finished the day in outright second after a fighting 71.
He was in danger of slipping even further behind after making a triple-bogey on the par-five eighth hole but regained his composure to collect four birdies in a row on the back-nine.
Australian Peter Fowler fired an incredible 10-under-par 62 to storm up the leaderboard into third place at 10-under just a day after he shot 75.
Fowler, who won the New Zealand Open 14 years ago, collected eight birdies and an eagle to smash The Hills course-record by three strokes, matching the lowest score in the tournament's history at any course.
‘I needed a good score after starting so far behind the leaders,’ Fowler said.
New Zealand's former British Open champion Bob Charles continued his amazing run with a tidy round of 71, matching his age, a day after he shot a 68 to become the oldest player to make the cut at a major worldwide tour event.
The New Zealand Open is co-sanctioned by both the European and Australasian PGA Tours.
Ireland's Damien McGrane shot 69 and sits eleven shots behind the leader.
