Golf: Janin runs hot but chases lead

Rotorua golfer Victor Janin is six shots of the pace after three rounds of the New Zealand Stroke Play in Hastings.

Janin (Rotorua Golf Club) carded 65 on the Par 72 Hastings Golf Club to go with his 76 and 71 at the weekend to be six shots behind leaders Vaughan McCall (Core Golf Club) and Waikato rep Luke Toomey.

Playing in fine and hot conditions, Janin is the best of the Rotorua golfers with Landyn Edwards carding an impressive third round 64, a new course record at Bridge Pa, to go with his previous rounds of 72 and 78 to be a further two shots behind Janin.

William Howard is another two strokes behind Edwards with Peter Lee hitting a 218 for his three rounds.

Overall leaders McCall and Toomey made the most of the conditions on the third day.

McCall fired a seven under par 65 to claim the outright lead in the clubhouse at a 10 under par total.

Toomey, who shared the round one lead, responded and made a great birdie at the last for a four under par 68 to also post that number.

McCall has shot rounds of 73, 68 and 65 at Bridge Pa this week and is feeling more comfortable after a change in game plan.

"I hit the ball really well and I was always in play and it was one of those days where everything was on form," the 20-year-old said.

Toomey is just enjoying the occasion of being in contention at the New Zealand Stroke Play.

"I was a little more nervous," the 18-year-old said.

"It is a little bit different when the draw gets seeded but I am absolutely stoked to get through with four under and put myself in a good position."

Overnight joint leader Hamilton's Matthew Perry went the other way in round three with a one over par 73, dropping him back to a share of third place with Nicolas Coxon, three shots back from the leaders.

"It was a little bit frustrating," the 24-year-old from the Hamilton Golf Club said.

"The course is there to be had - there have been a couple of great scores out there - put one of those next to my name and we'll be right."

Fraser Wilkin (Royal Auckland) had a three under par 69 in the third round to climb into fifth place while former Hastings local Daniel Pearce is in sixth after an even par 72.