SYDNEY, Australia(AP) Robert Allenby and fellow Australian James Nitties shot 3-under 69s and shared the third-round lead at the Australian Open on Saturday.
On a day when many of the front-runners turned in high scores - Friday's co-leader Kim Felton shot 79 - Nitties and Allenby had 54-hole totals of 10-under 206, a stroke ahead of Stuart Appleby (68).
``I really did hit some unbelievable shots out there because it was very tricky,'' Allenby said. ``Today was one of those days where I could've shot quite a few lower than what I am. But it's the Australian Open. It's a tough tournament to win and I've got a lot of respect for it and for the field.''
Craig Parry, who followed his course-record-tying 64 with a 70 Saturday, is tied for fourth with Nick O'Hern, who shot 72 Saturday after sharing the second-round lead with Felton.
American Brandt Snedeker was sixth after a 70, three strokes back, followed by former two-time champion Aaron Baddeley after a 69.
Felton was 1 under for the tournament and tied for 37th after Saturday's 7-over round. Australian Andrew Bonhomme, who was one stroke behind going into Saturday's round, had an 81 and is 2 over and tied for 54th.
American Lee Williamson, also just a stroke off the lead after Friday, shot 76 and fell seven strokes behind.
O'Hern started off eagle-birdie, but double-bogeyed the par-5 fifth. Felton had a bogey on the first, a quadruple-bogey seven on the par-3 fourth and chipped in from off the green on the par-5 18th for a seven, saving him from an 80.
Appleby, who missed the cut at last week's Australian PGA, hopes he'll be in the hunt Sunday for his second Australian Open title.
``I'm not sure what I have to do,'' Appleby said. ``I know I have to do something like today, think like today, commit like today and play like today and that still might not be enough. It's going to be a good old test for everybody.''
