KEY POINTS:
New Zealand could not take full advantage of a blistering start in difficult conditions during the third round of the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur team golf championships in Adelaide today, and seem unlikely to challenge for the crown.
The New Zealanders head into the final round in fourth
place on 11-under par, 10 shots behind leaders Scotland and six shots from second placed United States.
They had jumped within six shots of the lead at 13-under after a stunning start from world No 1 ranked amateur Danny Lee, who was five-under after only seven holes.
But they could not capitalise, finishing with a two-under par total for the two best counting rounds as several teams battled with tough pin positions and rock-hard greens at Grange Golf Club.
Lee led the way with a two-under par 70 to be in a share of fifth place on the individual rankings on six-under. Jared Pender carded an even par-72 to share seventh place on five-under.
James Gill had the non-counting 74.
Scotland jumped to a four shot lead on 21-under after a four-under 140 today for their two best counting scores with joint overnight leaders USA treading water at 17-under.
Sweden were the big movers with a five-under 139 today to overtake New Zealand for third on 13-under, two shots clear of Lee and company.
Hosts Australia are fifth on nine-under, a shot ahead of Italy and Spain with France eighth on six-under, Netherlands on five-under and the top-10 rounded out by Wales and South Africa on three-under.
Lee was disappointed he could not take advantage of a superb start when he nailed three birdies and a superb eagle with a 7-metre putt on the par-5 fifth hole.
He could not kick on, mixing one further birdie with two bogeys and a double bogey.
"My brain stopped working on the back nine. I am really annoyed with myself," Lee said.
"I played a couple of bad shots and didn't give myself the best line into some holes. And I had two bad putts."
New Zealand captain Murray Martin said the tough pin placements did his players no favours.
"It was very tough out there especially the finishing holes.
"If you did not place your ball in the perfect spot on the fairway it was impossible to get it close, especially with the greens so hard now," Martin said.
"We had our chances out there. Scotland played well today and really made some big putts that kept them in it but all the top teams found it difficult."
Pender, 25, who was the star yesterday with a five-under 67, started shakily with two bogeys. He worked his way back to even at the turn and mixed two further birdies with two dropped shots coming home, with his round affected with two three-putts and a bad lie that cost him a shot at the 16th.
- NZPA