Min Woo Lee has again conjured some last-hole magic to remain on track to complete a golden summer double with a popular Australian Open triumph in Sydney.
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Golf's new fan-favourite produced a brilliant sand-save birdie at the 18th to send spectators into a frenzy and Lee back to the top of the leaderboard after Saturday's third round.
Lee's roller-coaster one-under-par 70 was in stark contrast to his dazzling 64, iced with a tap-in eagle at the 18th, on Friday.
But it was enough to move him to 13 under and a share of the lead with Japan's in-form Rikuya Hoshino.
The co-leaders hold a one-shot buffer over Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick (66) and American Patrick Rodgers (68), with Lee's fellow Australian Lucas Herbert just two strokes off the pace in outright fifth after a moving-day 66.
Chasing the first Australian PGA Championship and Open double in more than a decade, Lee remains the favourite after overcoming some early wobbles and keeping it together without his A-game.
The 25-year-old dunked a ball in the water en route to a nasty double-bogey six on the par-4 third.
The blemish opened the door for his pursuers, only for Lee to post successive birdies on five and six to regain control of the championship.
But after finishing runner-up to Lee at Royal Queensland last Sunday, Hoshino continued his own hot summer run to wrestle the clubhouse lead with a steely 65.
The chilled-out Japanese was bogey-free and steadily climbed the leaderboard with four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 14th.
"Last week I couldn't make the birdie on the back nine, but this week I have more birdies at the back nine to make the winning (possible)," Hoshino said.
"This is the first time in Australia for me and I'm enjoying this atmosphere and also this tournament. That's why I'm playing well."
Lee isn't the only home hope in serious contention.
US PGA Tour star Herbert was delighted after rising to fifth and closing with a birdie after chalking up a double-bogey at the last on Friday when he signed for a 69 at The Lakes.
"I played well enough in the first nine holes yesterday to probably put that score up, but the back nine was a serious challenge," Herbert said.
"I was just holding on for dear life and unfortunately lost the battle with one hole to go yesterday.
"I'm somewhere near it ... I'm a chance."
Cameron Smith's chances of winning the Open for a first time look slim, with the 2022 British Open champion back in a tie for 25th at six under, and seven shots behind, after a round of 69.
Australian Associated Press
