Two Aussies share Fiji golf 3rd round lead

Australian golfers Steven Jeffress and Jake Higginbottom share a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the Fiji International.

Australian Golfer Jake Higginbottom

Australians Steven Jeffress and Jake Higginbottom share a two-stroke lead in the Fiji International. (AAP)

Australian tour veteran Steven Jeffress and young gun compatriot Jake Higginbottom are tied for the lead after three rounds at the Fiji International golf tournament.

Starting Saturday with a two-shot lead, Higginbottom watched it evaporate before maintaining his composure to shoot one-under-par 71 to be eight under going into the final round.

The 20-year-old's round including an eagle, three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

"I played solid towards the start but made a double on 10. It was a bit of a struggle but I just kept fighting.

"It was pretty brutal out there and so it was nice to finish and still be in the lead at the end of the day."

The highlight for Higginbottom came on the 16th where he made an unlikely birdie.

"The 16th is a tough hole with this wind. I hit a good drive but it just crept into the bunker. I had 110m (to the pin) and I hit (an) eight iron under the tree and over the coral," said Higginbottom who went on to one-putt for birdie.

"It was probably one of the best shots I've hit so it was nice to walk away an unlikely birdie there."

Despite not playing his best golf, Jeffress minimised his mistakes to fire a three-under-par 69.

"I didn't play as well as I played the first two days but I holed a couple of putts which was nice and just kept the ball out of trouble, so I'm very happy with it.

"I've played here a lot and it's not just all about hitting pure shots around here. It's about sometimes staying out of the long grass and minimising mistakes.

"I'd be lying if I said I won't be a little bit nervous tomorrow but I'll just focus on what I'm doing."

Two shots off the lead is Andrew Dodt while a further shot back is fellow Queenslander Brad Kennedy.

Rounding out the top five on four under is Korean Hur In-hoi, West Australian Michael Sim and Queenslander Cameron Smith.

The round of the day belonged to New Zealander David Smail who fired a new course record of five-under 67 to be outright eighth and six shots off the lead.

Former world No.1 Vijay Singh had his best round of the tournament, posting a two-under 70 to be one over and tied 15th.


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