Senden takes overnight lead

Last updated: 8th December 2012

John Senden will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Australia Open after carding a third round 70 in Sydney on Saturday.

The Australian will be hoping, however, that history doesn't repeat itself after he squandered the lead at 54 holes last year and had to settle for second position.

In second place, two strokes behind on five under is England's Justin Rose, who also finished with a round of 70.

Senden, who won the event in 2006, had to deal with strong winds across the Lakes Course towards the end of his round, but managed three pars on 16 through 18 to finish on two under par for the day.

"It was a day of just trying to do my best to stay up there and it's nice to be leading the golf tournament," Senden commented after his round.

"I thought the last two holes were pretty much close to the edge, it was so windy out there it was hard to hit the ball straight."

Rose would have been even closer to the lead going into the final round had he not dropped two shots late in the round when the winds started gusting.

"I hear the wind's going to switch and blow just as hard," Rose commented after his round.

"Whoever literally stands up could win the golf tournament, it could be last man standing.

"I think it's going to be a battle but I'm excited. As long as it doesn't get out of control and blow too hard, it's going to be a fun day to try and hit some shots.

"It's going to be my last round of the year and I'd like to go out on a high note."

Another two strokes further back on three-under is nine-time winner on the PGA Tour Stuart Appleby, who will be hoping to claim a win on home soil after a nightmare season.

"I'm hitting it better," Appleby noted.

"I hit it really well yesterday. I feel like I am coming back. I'd love to have made more progress a while back. You have to be patient. That is the beauty of this game. You have no real time period."

World number seven Adam Scott is also still in contention at two-under, but 63-year-old veteran Tom Watson struggled during his round of 78.

"It was ugly out there today for me, very ugly," Watson said.

"I struggled on the practice area warming up, I didn't have any feel for the club and didn't put the clubface on the ball."