KEY POINTS:
One of Mark Brown's best allies made a customary appearance at the New Zealand PGA Championship today to blow away the cobwebs and aid the progress of the New Zealand golfer.
Brown rode a buffeting wind to post a stunning six-under-par 66 to rocket from a share of 60th place to a tie for third heading into tomorrow's final round of the $861,000 co-sanctioned event.
He was the only player to walk off the 6513m course without dropping a shot, showing the benefit of a youth spent in windy Wellington, where he learned the importance of keeping his head down and maintaining a firm grip on his cap.
On a day of high scoring, Brown ended the third round on four-under 212, just two outside the lead held by American Ryan Howison, who shot 70.
On Howison's tail is Australian James Nitties, whose 72 left him on 211. A cluttered leaderboard features 18 players within five strokes of Howison, among them three New Zealanders in Brown, left-hander Tim Wilkinson and Phil Tataurangi.
Wilkinson is 11th equal on 214 following his 72, while Tataurangi slipped backwards, a 76 leaving him tied for 17th on 215.
Joining Brown in the queue in third place are Canadian David Morland, Americans Lee Williamson and Sal Spallone, and Australian Peter Senior.
It wasn't the gale which greeted players in the third round here three years ago, but the strong northeasterly which swept across the 6513m course today was the latest change in a weather menu which has offered a wild smorgasbord this week.
The first round was played in almost idyllic conditions, the second in cooling temperatures and rain while today the players were required to keep their wits about them and maintain concentration in trying circumstances.
Brown, 32, relished the arrival of the wind, hitting his irons with pure efficiency after counting his blessings that he made the second-round cut. The reason he and 17 others stayed around for the last two rounds was because a bogey on the last by David Dias saw the cut mark go from plus one to plus two.
Ironically, Diaz played in Brown's group in the third round, and the New Zealander said he did remind the Australian he owed him an ale or two.
Having said that, Brown made the most of his good fortune, putting like a dream as he nailed six birdies on an unblemished card.
It was a timely reminder that Brown has some game, after deciding last year to relaunch a career as a touring pro after a three-year break.
"I was pleased just to make the weekend, having made some good putts this morning (in the delayed second round) to save par. I took the attitude that I had nothing to lose."
The wind, which saw the average score balloon to 75, dragged the field back to Brown, who made his move early on by sinking an "outrageous" 40-footer for birdie on his fourth hole.
"Everyone tells me these conditions will suit me but I still don't enjoy them. I don't think they're fun for anybody. If you don't get off to a good the round can turn pear shaped pretty quickly."
There was nothing misshapen about Brown's performance today, although he complained later of three-putting the par-five second for par.
A 10-footer for birdie on the eight slid by the hole and he missed the green left at his last, the 188m par-three ninth, before sinking a 10-footer to dsave par.
The ninth, playing into the teeth of the wind, was brutally tough, yielding just four birdies in the third round, although Australian Michael Brennan had the distinction of acing the hole.
Brown, who finished 23rd in the Indonesian Open last week, is not sure whether his game is ready to carry him to victory tomorrow when the wind is forecast to return.
"I gave myself a talking to last week. I'm 32, what's the point of trying to hang on and make a bit of money. It's time I did something.
"I don't know if my game is ready or not, but mentally it is about time I did something."
- NZPA