Australian Masters: Montgomerie keeps tabs on Aussie leader

Colin Montgomerie lies three shots behind leader Brett Rumford after the third round of the Australian Masters in Melbourne.

Colin Montgomerie lies three shots behind leader Brett Rumford after the third round of the Australian Masters in Melbourne.

Rumford - runner-up in the same tournament last year - carded a course-record 64 for a 12-under 204.

Montgomerie joined Aussies Aaron Baddeley and overnight leader Adam Scott on seven-under 209 with a patchy two-under 70.

Rumford, second to New Zealander Michael Campbell last year, holds his three-shot buffer over American Jim Benepe and Australians Anthony Painter and Brad King.

Former winner Peter Lonard and 49-year-old Rodger Davis were among a group of four on eight-under 208.

Teenager Baddeley, last week's winner of the co-European Tour's Greg Norman International in Sydney, surged into calculations when he raced up from equal 52nd to joint 10th with a seven-under 65 to lie five shots behind Rumford.

But Rumford stole the limelight with eight birdies in an unblemished round.

He chipped to within two feet at the 16th hole, hit a six-iron to eight feet at the next and smacked a three-iron 150 yards to within three feet of the flag at the last to wrest the advantage.

"The putter fired up for me," he said.

"I was able to capitalise on the shots I did hit close and made a couple of good up and downs out there."

Montgomerie, two shots off the lead when he teed off, remains pleased with his early-season form.

He said: "I am delighted with the way I am playing from tee to green as well as ever, but I just can't score properly yet.

"The way I'm playing I can have a very good round on Sunday, so I'm looking forward to it."

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Shane Lowry Shane Lowry 'pretty happy' as he celebrates Paddy's Day with six-under at Sawgrass
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - Day Two PGA Tour representatives set to meet PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan
Scheffler wins as McIlroy and Lowry finish tied 19th at the Players Scheffler wins as McIlroy and Lowry finish tied 19th at the Players
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up

Ireland's Top 10 Hidden Gems

Ten of the best golf courses in Ireland that too few people know about.

Read Here
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited