Finch in front Down Under

Englishman Richard Finch will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the New Zealand Open after his best round of the week so far saw him capitalise on Australian Steven Bowditch's nightmare.

The Hull-born 30-year-old produced a third-round 64 to follow 73 and 65 on the previous two days and sits 14 under par, three clear of Bowditch after the New South Wales native suffered a horrific triple-bogey eight on the ninth to help Finch into a clear lead.

Another Australian, Peter Fowler, smashed the course record - after Finch and Bowditch on Friday set it with 65s - with a stunning 10-under 62 which saw him take third place, four behind Finch, going into the final day.

Finch completed the outward nine in 31 before coming home in 33, boosted by birdies on the 17th and 18th.

Having picked up nine birdies and a solitary bogey, Finch told pgatour.com.au: "I hit the fairways, hit it as near to the pin on the green as I could then tried to give myself a chance to drop the putts in.

"I was looking at the leaderboard on the way round at about the 13th or 14th and thought that if I could press on over the last few holes and make a few birdies I could open up a bit of a lead."

Welshman Kyron Sullivan is seventh after a three-under 69 put him seven under overall, a shot ahead of Robert Dinwiddie who was joined in eighth by New Zealander Mahal Pearce and Aussie Marc Leishman.

England's Oliver Fisher shared 11th on five under after a 72 with Irishman Damien McGrane and Scot Peter Whiteford among five in 29th on three under.