SYDNEY, Australia -- Robert Allenby and fellow Australian James Nitties shot 3-under 69s and shared the third-round lead at the MFS 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 7 on the par-3 fourth and chipped in from off the green on the par-5 18th for a 7, saving him from an 80.
Appleby, who missed the cut at last week's Australian PGA Championship, 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."
Three years ago, Allenby rolled out the welcome mat for little-known Australian Nitties at his Florida home. The Melbourne-born youngster was in America to prepare to represent Australia at the Eisenhower Trophy in Puerto Rico in 2004.
Nitties, along with fellow Australians Michael Sims and Jarrod Lyle, practiced, ate and sunk some beers with Allenby, a veteran winner on the PGA TOUR.
"I looked after them for a few days," Allenby said. "I practiced with them, took them to Jack Nicklaus' club, and looked after them.
"He's (James) a great guy and has a great game. It's great to see him playing well," he added. "He's a tough competitor, still learning."
"Off the course, he's just a normal Aussie dude," Nitties said of his meeting with Allenby in Florida in 2004. "We went over for a BBQ and he took us out on his boat."
"We drank some beers, but on the course, he's determined and tenacious," he added. "Hopefully it will be comfortable for me tomorrow (Sunday) as I've played with him before."
But the 25-year-old can expect no favors as Allenby attempts to win his 21st career tournament. After his 69, the 36-year-old Allenby warned that he is approaching career-best form and is hungry for yet another win on home soil.
"I swung it the best I've swung it all year," Allenby said. "I've been working hard on my swing all year and really hit some unbelievable shots out there."
Nitties too is excited about sharing the lead with Allenby as he attempts to claim the Stonehaven Cup.
"I'm happy with the result," he said of his 69. "I played scrappy early, but really happy with the result."
"It was tough to gauge which way the wind was going. The front nine it was pretty consistent but the back nine it really swelled there," he added. "The greens really got hard towards the end, all week we've been playing at the pin, you had to play before it a little today."
"I'll sleep well ... this sort of thing does not keep me up any more," he said. "I'm a really light sleeper. I'll sleep like a baby, up every two hours crying ... nah, just joking."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press and PA Sport. All rights reserved.
