Aussies share World Cup lead

Jones: Late birdie

Third round leaderbaord:
Spain -22
Australia -22
Sweden -18
Germany -17
Ireland -15

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A birdie from Brendon Jones on the 18th hole gave Australia a share of the lead with Spain heading into the final round of the World Cup of Golf in China.

Jones sank a four-footer on the final green to put him and team-mate Richard Green on 22-under par, joining Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal at the top of the leaderboard.

The Spanish duo had held a four-stroke lead at the start of the day, but had to settle for a five-under round of 67 in the fourballs action.

The Australians certainly enjoyed the format and Jones' late, late birdie saw them end the day with a nine-under par round of 63.

Missed chance

"It was a solid performance," said Green afterwards. "Brendan was there when I needed him and I would like to think I was there for him.

"It was a good, solid day and we are right in contention for tomorrow."

Jimenez could have ensured Spain stayed out in front on their own but he missed a birdie chance from six feet at the last hole.

Jones and Green also excelled in fourballs on Thursday, but the final round will be in the foursome format that Jimenez and Larrazabal starred in on Friday.

With both teams in the same group, Australia had drawn level with Spain on the 15th with an eagle, while Jimenez found the water.

Mistakes

"The game today was not at the level of the first two days," said Jimenez. "We

made a lot of mistakes.

"On 15, the par five, we dropped a shot, and in this format that's like killing yourself."

The Swedish team of Robert Karlsson and Henrick Stenson, the two highest ranked players in the event, are still in touch after their 66 left them four strokes behind.

Germany are a shot further back in fourth after a round of 68, while Ireland are on 15-under and America and Japan share a tie for sixth on 14-under.

England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher had their best round of the tournament with an impressive 63, but they are well out of contention, 12 shots off the pace.

"To shoot three under on Thursday and then two-over on Friday and to go out and shoot nine under, it shows that we felt like we still had a good chance," said Fisher.

"It's promising, so hopefully we can go out there tomorrow and shoot a decent score and hopefully we can see England on the board."

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth could only manage a 68 and are on seven-under, while Bradley Dredge and Richard Johnson of Wales are second-to-last on two-under.