Purcell tied fifth in Melbourne after 66 on moving day

Conor Purcell

Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell is tied for fifth behind home hero Adam Scott heading into the final round of the the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne.

The Dubliner (25) made five birdies and a bogey at Victoria Golf Club to trail Scott by just six strokes on five-under.

Scott made a closing eagle for the second day in a row to take a one-shot lead into the final roun.

Adrian Meronk had tied the course record and his lowest DP World Tour round with a 63 to set the target at ten under and it looked like he would the man with the advantage after 54 holes.

But Scott made a birdie on the 15th and then eagled the last in a 67 to leapfrog the Pole as he looks for a second win in his national open after triumphing 13 years ago.

Min Woo Lee carded a 65 to sit four shots off the lead alongside fellow Australian Haydn Barrow, with Kiwi Josh Geary and Irishman Conor Purcell at six under. Geary recorded a 69 and Purcell signed for a 66 to sit a shot ahead of David Micheluzzi - who double-bogeyed the 17th in his 73 - Japan's Ryo Hisatsune, Dane Nicolai Højgaard, Frenchman Pierre Pineau and American Gunner Wiebe.

In the women's event, South Korea's Jiyai Shin will take a one-shot lead over South African Ashleigh Buhai into the final round, while Kurtis Barkley signed for a sensational 69 to lead the Australian All Abilities Championship @ the ISPS HANDA Australian Open - the opening event of the 2023 G4D Tour season - by three shots at one under.

Brendan Lawlor is nine shots back in tied fourth on seven-over after a 79.

Scott was frustrated after a 71 on day one at Kingston Heath Golf Club but since moving over to Victoria he has barely put a foot wrong, making just one bogey in his last two rounds to fly up the leaderboard.

Huge crowds are sure to follow the former World Number One on the final day as he looks for a 12th DP World Tour title in an all-star group with Meronk and Lee.