Australian PGA Championship: Kazuma Kobori and Daniel Hillier right in hunt at Royal Queensland

New Zealand golfer Kazuma Kobori plays his second shot on the fifth hole on day three of the BMW Australian PGA Championship. Kobori is one shot back from the three leaders going into the final round. Photo / Getty Images

Kazuma Kobori and Daniel Hillier are among a stacked pack leading the chase into the final round of the Australian PGA Championship.

Kobori will go into the fourth round a shot behind the trio of leaders at Royal Queensland in Brisbane, with Hillier a further shot back as they look to end the Kiwi drought at the tournament.

The last New Zealander to win the Australian PGA Championship was Greg Turner in 1999.

Local hope Anthony Quayle, caddied by Kiwi Steve Williams, shares the lead with Spain’s David Puig and Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal at 13-under.

Puig carded a seven-under 65 to take the clubhouse lead before Gouveia (66) and Quayle (67) joined the LIV Golf player in the lead.

Kobori, 69, sits in a share of fourth at 12-under with Australian Min Woo Lee, the 2023 champion.

Hillier, 67, is another shot back alongside former Masters winner Adam Scott, who has won the event twice, fellow Aussie Marc Leishman and China’s Wenyi Ding.

Kiwi Nick Voke is also in the hunt at 10-under with his second straight 66, with Aussies Cameron Davis, Greg Ogilvy and Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of Ryder Cup winner Matt. Fourteen players are within three shots of the lead.

Kobori held the overnight lead after carding a 63 on Friday and had a lightning-quick start in the third round with birdies at the opening two holes.

However, players were called off the course because of the threat of lightning, after which Kobori couldn’t find another birdie, losing the lead.

Hillier looked set to be with Kobori just a shot off the pace before his only blemish, at the 18th, dropped him down the leaderboard. The Wellingtonian opened with three birdies on the front nine and added two more on the turn home before his bogey five at the last.

Fellow Kiwi and world No 41 Ryan Fox fell to 57th on the leaderboard after a round of 73.