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Albatross helps Allenby

Duo to go head-to-head on final day for Australian Masters title

Last updated: 29th November 2008

Allenby: Albatross

Third round leaders:
Aus unless stated
R Allenby -10
M Sim -10
A Hall -8
S Webster (Eng) -7
R Pampling -7
A Summers -7

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Robert Allenby hit just the third albatross in 20 years on the Australian Tour to grab a share of the third round lead at the Australian Masters.

Allenby boosted his chances of a third Masters title with a five-under round of 67 that leaves him on 10-under-par for the tournament.

Alongside Allenby at the top of the leaderboard is former world amateur number one Michael Sim, who shot 68 on Saturday.

Allenby recorded a rare albatross with a fantastic second shot on the par-five seventh hole at Huntingdale.

The 35-year-old caught his three wood second shot on the 535-yard hole as clean as a whistle, and after landing on the front of the green his ball rolled 25 feet and dropped into the hole.

Albatross

"It was about as pure as it looked," Allenby said. "The wind was just off the right, I knew I didn't have to smash it, I knew I just needed to hit it solid.

"I was just going straight at (the hole) and it did exactly that, it went straight at it, it landed perfect.

"I saw it land and I saw it track towards the flag and it just sort of disappeared and then I heard the roar and obviously it had gone in."

Allenby's stunning shot had put him five shots ahead of playing partner Sim, but the Western Australian hit a hat-trick of birdies to get back into contention.

With the two tied for the lead they will again be playing partners on Sunday, but this time it will be in the final group and could end up as a matchplay shoot-out for the title.

"I just hit the ball solid today, a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and just gave myself a lot of opportunities," said Sim.

Matchplay

"You've just got to stick to your game plan. It's the first time for me in a final group and that's going to be different.

"There's going to be people out there supporting Robert because he's from Victoria and I've just got to stay within each shot and if it happens, it happens."

The lead changed hands throughout the third round, with seven players occupying top spot at one stage or another throughout the day.

Huntingdale member Ashley Hall is on his own in third place, two shots off the lead, following his 68, while Rod Pampling, Anthony Summers and Englishman Steve Webster are tied together at seven-under.

Overnight leader Tim Clark tumbled 28 places down the leaderboard after his disappointing round of 76.