Golf: Not so easy run for Ernie

Aussie left-hander Nick O'Hern, likely to be one of the favourites in next week's New Zealand Open, shot a flawless eight-under 63 to grab the tournament lead after the third round of the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne yesterday. But he may have to see off a challenge from Ernie Els who remains ominously close by.

O'Hern birdied three of the last seven holes to finish the day at 14-under 199, leading by a shot from fellow Australians Craig Parry and Jarrod Lyle. Parry birdied the last three holes in a round of 65 while Lyle, who was diagnosed with leukaemia as a teenager six years ago but made a full recovery, shot 66 for the second day running.

Els, chasing his fourth straight win in Australia's richest golf tournament, remained in contention with a 66 to finish the day tied for fourth, with Brett Rumford at 11-under.

However, Scotland's Colin Montgomerie dropped shots at four of his last six holes to slump to a 72 and finish six shots off the pace. New Zealand's hopes also faded as David Smail shot a four-over 75 to slip to 48th on two-under. Smail has been passed by compatriot Stephen Scahill, who is 39th after a 69 took him to three-under, and is level with Tony Christie, who carded 73.

Els was seven shots adrift after an opening 72 but closed the gap to three shots at the halfway stage after what he described as a "grinding 64" yesterday. It took the world No 3 just two holes to wipe out that deficit in the third round as the players took advantage of a course rendered near-defenceless by torrential rain.

A birdie on the first was followed by an eagle on the second, with three more birdies and a bogey taking the South African to the turn in 31. After missing from just two feet to bogey the 13th, Els hit straight back with a brace of birdies only to drop a shot on the 17th.

"I hit spectacular shots and then made silly errors," admitted Els, who carded a 12-under-par 60 in the first round last year. "I feel like I am playing well and my game is not far off but it's frustrating when I get myself in position and make a couple of mistakes. The course is there for us to attack and it's not over yet."

Montgomerie dragged himself into contention following a slow start, opening with seven pars as the rest of the field covered the leaderboard in red numbers, but four late bogeys appear to have ended his chances.

Leader O'Hern finished 12th on the European Tour Order of Merit last year despite not winning a tournament, the 33-year-old recording 11 top-10 finishes.

"I last won in Australia back in 1999 so it's been a long time," admitted O'Hern.

- REUTERS/NZPA