John Senden will take a one-shot buffer into the final round of the Emirates Australian Open after firing a blistering nine-under par 63 at The Lakes on Saturday. The 2006 Stonehaven Cup winner began the day six shots adrift of overnight leader Tiger Woods but stormed home with consecutive birdies at the 17th and 18th to sit at 12-under for the championship. His flawless round including a spectacular hole-out for eagle from 102m at the par-four 6th as well as seven birdies. Jason Day leads the chasing pack at 11-under after celebrating his 24th birthday with a rock-solid 68 that included five birdies and a solitary bogey at the par-three 15th. It was a disastrous day for overnight leader Tiger Woods, who began his round with three consecutive bogeys on the way to a three-over 75. Woods, who battled his swing all day, had two more blemishes early in the back nine but limited the damage with a birdie at the 13th hole. The 14-time major winner will have to be at his brilliant best if he is to end his two-year winless drought on Sunday. He is currently in a tie for eighth with countryman Bubba Watson (72) at six-under the card, six shots adrift of Senden. West Australian Greg Chalmers took advantage of the relatively calm afternoon conditions with a five-under 67 to sit alone in third at 10-under. Nick O&aposHern (66) and Nick Watney (68) are a further shot back, while Queenslander Ryan Haller scorched around The Lakes layout in 65 blows to join first-round leader Jarrod Lyle (69) in sixth spot. Aaron Baddeley charged home with four-back-nine birdies to get to five-under for the tournament, alongside pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott and Peter O&aposMalley, who struggled to a 75 after playing alongside Woods. Scott&aposs second consecutive 71 included a spectacular eagle from the fairway at the short par-four 13th. Boom American Kelly Kraft showed his class with a four-under 68 to be the leading amateur at three-under par. Geoff Ogilvy&aposs title defence is all but over after the Victorian carded a two-under 70 to sit 10 shots back with one round to play.
Author: Steve Orme at The Lakes, Sportal