Rory Hie Drops Back At Emirates Australian Open

SYDNEY, Dec. 8 - Former champion John Senden could be forgiven the feeling of déjà vu after firing a two-under-par 70 on Saturday for a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the Emirates Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.

The PGA Tour regular, who won his national open in 2006, led going into the final round of last year's tournament but was pipped at the post by countryman Greg Chalmers and lost by a shot.

Senden's tournament total of 209 leaves him at seven under, with England's Justin Rose (70) two strokes behind and Australians Matthew Jones (69), Peter Senior (69) and Kieran Pratt (70) a shot further back.

The wind played havoc with the field at the A$1.25 million OneAsia event on Saturday -- particularly for the late starters -- and putting became treacherous on the baked greens.

"You have to be able to control the ball any time you play golf, but in these conditions you have to rely on your game -- especially distance control in cross winds and into the breeze," said Senden.

"It got very dry -- especially the 18th green -- and the 14th green was quite dry around the hole. It had nothing to do with the set up or what they had done early in the morning, it is the wind."

Senden's round was ignited after a sluggish start by an eagle on the 528-metre (577-yard) par-five 11th when a sweetly struck three wood left him with a 10 footer.

"All the par fives are risk-reward," he said. "I took a risk there and pulled it off."

The tall Queenslander, whose consistency since finishing joint 10th at this year's U.S. Open has propelled him into the world's top 50, will be paired with Rose on Sunday, who feels anyone can win if the conditions stay the same.

"One or two shots don’t make much difference," said Rose, the marquee attraction at the penultimate tournament on both the OneAsia and PGA Tour of Australasia calendars.

"The wind is going to switch and blow just as hard. The last man standing could win the golf tournament. I think it is going to be a battle."

Rose's only other appearance at the Australian Open came 13 years ago, shortly after he turned professional and in the middle of a miserable run of 21 missed cuts.

Now the world number four, he feels he has the experience to win the tournament.

"I have been in contention quite a lot this year and I am beginning to feel comfortable with it and enjoy it … relish it," he said.

"The Australian guys will be more familiar with these conditions, but I definitely feel good about my chances. The first three days are all about putting yourself in position to have a good chance and I think that is exactly what I have done."

Overnight leader Marcus Fraser dropped four shots on Saturday and goes into the final round at two under despite an eagle on the par-five 14th. Home favourite Adam Scott, the 2009 champion, shot 71 and is also two under.

Three of this year's OneAsia winners are still not out of it and determined to do well with the Order of Merit race to be decided at the Australian PGA Championship next week.

Australian Nick Cullen, winner of the Indonesia Open earlier this year, is two under after a third round 74, countryman Matt Griffin (71), who won the Charity High1 Resort Open is at one under, and Liang Wenchong (72), the Nanshan China Masters champion, is level par.

Indonesian Rory Hie couldn't maintain Friday's progress and finished the day with a 75 for a total 1 over.

Defending champion Greg Chalmers (69) is one under, while American veteran Tom Watson has yo-yoed around in 78, 68 and 78.

Scores after round three of the Emirates Australian Open being played at the par 72,6,290-metre (6,879-yard) The Lakes Golf Club (a- denotes amateur):

209 - John Senden (AUS) 66-73-70.

211 - Justin Rose (ENG) 68-73-70.

212 - Matthew Jones (AUS) 71-72-69, Peter Senior (AUS) 75-68-69, Kieran Pratt (AUS) 71-71-70.

213 - Stuart Appleby (AUS) 70-73-70, Kyle Stanley (USA) 72-71-70, Cameron Percy (AUS) 72-69-72.

214 - Matthew Millar (AUS) 74-71-69, Adam Scott (AUS) 72-71-71, Josh Geary (NZL) 70-73-71, Andre Stolz (AUS) 72-71-71, Mathew Goggin (AUS) 71-70-73, Steven Jones (AUS) 73-68-73, Nick Cullen (AUS) 70-70-74, Brendan Jones (AUS) 68-71-75, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 69-69-76.

215 - Scott Gardiner (AUS) 76-71-68, Cameron Smith (am, AUS) 72-74-69, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 71-75-69, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 74-71-70, Stephen Leaney (AUS) 75-69-71, Matthew Stieger (AUS) 73-71-71, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 75-69-71, Kim Felton (AUS) 68-75-72, Gareth Paddison (NZL) 68-73-74.

216 - Scott Laycock (AUS) 76-69-71, Liang Wenchong (CHN) 73-71-72, Timothy Wood (AUS) 70-74-72, Jamie Arnold (AUS) 72-72-72, Daniel Popovic (AUS) 71-73-72, Rodney Pampling (AUS) 74-69-73.

217 - James Nitties (AUS) 77-71-69, David Bransdon (AUS) 74-73-70, Nick O'Hern (AUS) 71-73-73, Michael Hendry (NZL) 72-71-74, Brett Rumford (AUS) 73-69-75, Rory Hie (INA) 73-69-75, Richard Green (AUS) 68-73-76.