Australian PGA Championship leader Jordan Zunic is choosing to forget the blemishes on his final two holes that spoiled a magical round and have given his rivals hope.
Instead he'll remember the other 16 that reaped him 11 birdies in a round of 64 and put him three shots clear of Cameron Smith ahead of Sunday's finale.
The 25-year-old from Wollongong, who has missed the cut at his past two tournaments, shot 29 including seven birdies on the front nine.
He found water on the 12th but made a long par putt to re-ignite his round, surging with four straight birdies.
Zunic then needed to birdie the last two for a round of 59, a feat not flirted with at an Australian championship since Ernie Els shot 60 at the 2004 Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne.
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But a bogey, double bogey finish crushed that dream and gave his rivals hope.
"What two holes," he dead-panned after equalling the course record.
"I just think of 16 good holes, that's all I can see in my mind and all I'm sure we'll talk about tonight.
"I was surprising myself but that happens sometimes; not often but when it does it's good fun."
Zunic confessed to struggling on the European Challenge Tour this year but has found form since reading fellow pro Nick O'Hern's book Tour Mentality.
He, along with girlfriend and caddy Olivia Marlow, have been mentored by O'Hern this week and Zunic says it's made all the difference.
"It was a bit of a flash that round, I can't remember bits of it," he said.
"But I did such a good job today of doing what I've been working on, in regards to my mindset."
The Sydney-based golfer has already endured an eventful career.
In 2013, while playing as an amateur in the United States, he suffered severe head injuries and blood loss as a passenger in a car crash.
Two years later he won the New Zealand Open and now the Australian PGA Championship is his to lose.
Smith, a PGA Tour winner this year, presents as his main challenger.
The 24-year-old from Brisbane had a five under 67, with Zunic's late blip putting him well in contention and clear of overnight leaders Marc Leishman (10 under) and Adam Bland (13 under).
Leishman was par through his first nine holes but grew looser as his round continued to finish two over for the day after a superb 65 on Friday.
Sergio Garcia was two under for the day but at eight under is well off the pace.
With storms expected on Sunday, organisers have made the call to start from 6am and 8am AEST - three hours earlier than planned - in the hope of crowning a winner before the rain arrives.
