Golf: Kennedy the man to beat

Kiwi Josh Geary is the outright leader of the New Zealand Open. Photo / Getty Images

Brad Kennedy might not be used to leading a golf tournament heading in to the final day but he will have to get his head around it quickly.

On moving day at the New Zealand Open today, the major mover was the best player in the field on paper.

And while golf tournaments aren't played on paper, Australia's Kennedy entered this week's tournament at Clearwater in Christchurch with the highest world ranking of the 144-strong field.

The global No 228 was solid throughout the opening two rounds but turned it up a notch on the third today (sat) as he shot an impressive four under to hold a three-shot lead at the event over Josh Geary.

"Most of my good finishes this year were coming from behind," Kennedy said.

"I've just got to go out and attack whether I'm four or five ahead or one behind, two behind. If I don't I can let everyone back in."

Playing in the last group alongside Geary and veteran Australian Craig Parry, Kennedy had a mixed back nine with an eagle, two birdies, three pars and three bogeys.

The 37-year-old, who has plenty of experience after turning professional in 1994, dropped shots on the 17th and 18th holes, which took the gloss off his round.

"It was a bit of a battle out there - I was up and down like a yo-yo," the right-hander said after his round.

"It was a great day but a lot of frustration as well."

Kennedy, who won the West Australian Open last year and is a regular on the Japanese Tour, said it would be a challenging final day.

"To win a national open of anyone's country would be pretty special. I haven't had much of a chance to win the Australian Open but to win a national open; there's a lot of great names on that trophy.

"It depends on the New Zealand weather. [I] still have to keep the mindset of attacking the golf course if it's wet and windy. It's supposed to blow from the south so it'll play a lot differently."

Kennedy's round was the best of the day as only 14 players managed to go under par, although Terry Pilkadaris signed off on a three-under 71 to be outright third at five-under for the tournament.

Geary remains the best of the Kiwis after he carded a one-under 71, but he also dropped a shot on the tricky 18th hole as a wayward tee shot put him off his stride.

The right-hander admitted there was pressure on him to break the eight-year drought without a Kiwi winner.

"For sure, but I can't sort of think about that," he said.

"I've got to go out there and do my own thing and hopefully have a chance come the last few holes. I mean just plod away and make a few good scores in the first few holes and hopefully I've got a good chance coming in to the last few holes. And I mean that's all you can ask for, really. And the last few holes provide potential for good swings, you know. So even if you are three, four or five behind with six to go it's very much on. So there's birdie holes and also if you play them poorly you can make big numbers too. So I think it's right down to the line tomorrow." (sunday)

Parry, who began the day with a share of the lead, double-bogeyed the par-four sixth hole and dropped another shot on the eighth as he struck a one-over 73 to finish in a tie for fourth at four-under the card.

Otago's Mahal Pearce finished with an even-par 72 to hold on to a tie for 10th, while Hawke's Bay pro Doug Holloway fired a 76 to drop off the pace to a share of 13th.

Japanese Tour player and world No 475 David Smail shot a one-under 71, but was left with a mountain to climb from day one after he went five over the card on Thursday.

Nationwide Tour pro Steve Alker shot a disappointing 77 to drift out of contention, while Phil Tataurangi carded a three-over 75 to ensure he won't contest for the title on Sunday.