Three share 54-hole lead at Australian PGA Championship

Three players, including 20-year-old Zander Lombard, are tied for the lead after 54 holes of the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland.

The young South African posted a 71 in round three to move level with compatriot Dylan Frittelli and American Harold Varner who carded a best-of-day six-under-par 66.

Lombard, who opened with a 67 on Thursday, is three-under after three rounds at Royal Pines where a bogey at the final hole denied him the opportunity to enjoy sole possession of top spot. The highlight of his round was a 50-yard chip-in birdie at 16.

Frittelli also fired a 71 and will play Sunday's final round in the company of Varner who enjoyed a bogey-free day on the Gold Coast where making birdies remains a tough challenge - partly due to the blustery conditions.

Only three of the 71 golfers remaining in the tournament broke 70 on Saturday, when 13 fired rounds of 78 or higher.

Varner, who is currently a rookie on the PGA Tour, is keen to shoot low again on Sunday: "I was playing pretty well the first two days, just a few mistakes and didn't hole many putts

"But I am just looking forward to the opportunity tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to get better.

"I haven't played in that much wind in a long time. When bad things happen, you've just got to shake it off and go onto the next one and today I did that really well."  

Varner had teed off in round three in a tie-for-28th but, so far, no player has broken 70 in successive rounds.

And it was a difficult day for overnight leader David Lingmerth who shot 75. The Swede double-bogeyed two holes early in his back nine but he remains in contention three strokes off the pace.