Golf: Kiwi duo move up leaderboard

Gareth Paddison of the New Zealand plays a shot on the 17th hole during day three of the Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand golfers Gareth Paddison and Michael Campbell both carded three-under par rounds of 69 to edge up the leaderboard heading into tomorrow's final round of the Australian Open at The Lakes course in Sydney.

Paddison is the best placed of the New Zealanders after mixing five birdies with two bogeys in today's third round to move up to a share of 12th at six-under par, while the usually inconsistent Campbell fired his third successive sub-par round - he had three birdies in a blemish-free round - to move up 10 places and be tied for 17th at five-under par.

But Michael Long's challenge faded today after a two-over 74 saw him drop from seventh to a tie for 33rd, while Mahal Pearce signed for a third consecutive round of even-par 72 to share 48th place.

Australian Geoff Ogilivy has a five-shot lead, the former US Open champion firing a five-under par 67 today to be 16-under for the tournament. Compatriots Matt Jones, at 11-under, and Greg Chalmers and Alistair Presnell, at 10-under, are his nearest challengers.

- NZPA