Australia dominated day three of the inaugural Four Nations Cup at The Hills near Queenstown with some scintillating golf to open up a 14-shot lead over New Zealand.
Brett Drewitt fired the low round of the tournament when he carded a seven under par 65 and was backed up in fine style by Todd Sinnott (66) as they climbed into first and second place on the individual standings respectively. Australia's third counting score came from Maverick Antcliffe (72) as the three players made the most of moving day with a 13 under total.
"I think it was because they could feel their hands,'' said Australian manager Craig Bishop, referring to the bitterly cold conditions in round two.
New Zealand, who got to within one shot of Australia after a fantastic fightback in round two, faded in the third round and could manage only a combined even-par total. Waikato amateur Mathew Perry was the pick of the Kiwis with a superb four under par 68.
"Today's round was all about momentum,'' Perry said. "I would hit a good shot, get up there and drain the putt and then do it again. I have been happy with how I have been hitting the ball, so it was nice to convert some of that ball striking with some putts to help the boys out with a good score.''
Ben Campbell shot even par and the third counting score came from one of Ryan Fox (76) or Vaughan McCall (76). New Zealand manager Brent Paterson believed his side's total was only disappointing because it looked paltry compared to Australia.
"We started slowly and the Australians came out hot,'' he said. "We deteriorated in the middle but we came back pretty strongly to post a good score of even par - the same score as yesterday. But two of the Australians have played unbelievable golf and we are now 14 shots back on them and have some work ahead of us.''
Perry, the New Zealand Amateur champion, was sure they still could deliver a memorable come-from-behind win. "We've seen some good scoring today so we know that it is out there, we just need three or four them tomorrow,'' he said. "We need to be attacking to go low and we'll see what happens.''
Australia, the Trans Tasman Cup, Nomura Cup and Southern Cross Cup champions, will go into the final round as hot favourites to claim another piece of silverware.
South Africa remained in third by one shot from Argentina, 13 shots back from New Zealand.
The Four Nations Cup is an amalgamation of two tournaments the Four Nations (between New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Canada) and the Southern Cross Cup (between New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina) becoming one strokeplay event.