Japan-Australasia Championship: Ryan Peake holds two-shot lead ahead of final round in Auckland

Australia’s Ryan Peake is in pole position to claim his second big New Zealand professional golf title in just over a year after seizing the outright lead at the inaugural ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship on Saturday.

But last year’s NZ Open champion has a long list of contenders close behind heading into the final round, including the highest-ranked Kiwi in the field this week, Kazuma Kobori.

As many as seven shots behind at one point, Kobori turned an ordinary day into a good one by racing up the leaderboard with four straight birdies to close out his day at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club.

Reaffirming his belief that his game is in great shape, Peake shot a five-under-par 67 to move to 13-under-par overall, two shots ahead of Kobori, whose late rush saw him post a 67, and Australian James Marchesani, who carded a 66.

A massive group of 10 players is at 10-under, including two host club members – 17-year-old amateur Ryan Xie, who matched the course record with an 8-under-par 64 on Saturday, and the more experienced Nick Voke, who regained some ground by picking up shots in his last two holes to shoot a one-under 70.

The pack tied for fourth also includes the leading Japan Golf Tour player Aguri Iwasaki (68) and one of the co-leaders after 36 holes, Jay Mackenzie (71).

Peake seized the outright lead by snaring six birdies without a bogey in his first 14 holes, building a lead of four shots before he bogeyed two of his last four.

“To be honest, out of the three days that we’ve played, that’s the worst I’ve actually played. I just felt I was under the pump all day,” Peake said.

“I’m still stinging a little bit from that finish. I just hit a few poor shots coming home there.

“I’m not really looking forward to the conversation in about 10 minutes with my coach.”

Japan-Australasia Championship top five Kiwis in the field

Kazuma Kobori: -11 and tied for second

Ryan Xie and Nick Voke: -10 and tied for fourth

Cameron Harlock: -6 and tied for 29th

Kerry Mountcastle: -4 and tied for 43rd