US PGA star Matt Kuchar will take a two shot lead into today's final round of the Fiji International at the picturesque Natadola Bay course, near Sigatoka.
The world number 16 showed his composure in trying conditions as he went under par for the first time in the tournament. Heleads by two, at one-under, from Australian Aron Price who also shot a three-under 69.
Kiwi Ryan Fox, paired with Kuchar for the third consecutive round, shot 73 to be seven shots behind in fourth place. Fox started well enough and was one under through his first nine holes, before two bogeys on 10 and 12 slowed his momentum.
Auckland-based Brad Shilton was the biggest mover among the New Zealanders, finishing in fifth place at seven over. Following rounds of 77 and 76, Shilton had five birdies and one bogey on his card as he stood on the 18th tee eyeing up a 68 and a chance to move into third place. But he hit his tee shot into the bunker left, caught too much sand with his second, then hit his approach short into the breeze, chipped up and missed the putt for a disappointing double bogey finish.
Despite the late mishap, Shilton says he would have happily signed for a two-under 70 at the start of the day.
"My game is not quite feeling as good as it was before I got here, but a couple of days in the wind beats you up a bit," he said. "My bad swing gets a bit steery and that just happens in the breeze and hence that mistake up the last, which makes it hurt a bit more than if it was on 10 or 11. I need to be aggressive tomorrow. I have played this course a lot and played well, so I will stick to the game plan that works for me."
Josh Geary is tied for 22nd after shooting 74, with Mark Brown two shots further back after a disappointing 77. Kieran Muir birdied the 17th to make the cut right on the mark of 14-over on Friday and yesterday fired seven birdies thanks to a blazing putter. Unfortunately, he also had two bogies, a double and a triple to finish on even par tied for 35th.
Australian Mathew Millar had the lowest round of the day of 68. David Smail's course record of 67, set last year, looked likely to go until Millar had a double bogey on his final hole.
