Auckland-based Australian Peter Fowler will take a three-shot lead into today's final round of the Tauranga Open golf tournament.
Leading by three shots overnight, Fowler's lead was cut to just one after 10 holes by local hope Jared Pender and fellow professionals Dominic Barson and Hamish Robertson.
The former Australian and New Zealand Open champion re-discovered his touch around the greens on the back nine at Tauranga Golf Club, making three birdies in five holes to card a four-under-par 66 which took him to 14-under after 54 holes.
Fowler said he concentrated on his own game and was not aware of the chasers.
"I didn't see any leaderboards so was just playing my own game and you can only do as good as you can," Fowler said. "I didn't make the birdies early but didn't look like dropping any shots. I putted a bit better on the back nine which was good.
"I haven't played for a couple of months as I come back from the hip surgery. Physically I'm not at 100 per cent, although I am not bad. In light of that I am pretty happy with my progress."
Robertson is three shots behind with North Harbour professional Mike Hendry a shot back on 10-under in the opening 2009 Charles Tour event.
"It's the first time that I've been in a final group in a four-round professional event so I am looking forward to it," Robertson said.
Pender finished with a two-under 68 yesterday to be alone in fourth place on nine-under, a shot ahead of a trio of professionals - Barson, Wellington's Andrew Green and former Japan touring professional Richard Lee.
Taupo's Troy Ropiha is eighth on seven-under, a shot ahead of Mahal Pearce, the former New Zealand Open winner, and Grant Moorhead, last year's NZPGA Order of Merit winner was on six under.
The leading amateur is Tauranga's James Hamilton, who fired a two-under 68 yesterday to be in a share of 11th place on five-under.
The women's contest, run over 54 holes, was dominated by Cecilia Cho. The Pakuranga 14-year-old, who won the New Zealand Amateur title two weeks ago, shot a final round even-par 71 to finish on three-under.
She was six shots ahead of Lydia Ko, the 12-year-old from Pupuke, who was also runner-up to Cho in the Amateur.
The 2006 New Zealand Amateur winner Larissa Eruera (Aviation) was third on six-over par.
- NZPA
Golf: Own game works just fine
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