Jakarta, March 24, 2012 (AFP) - Australian left-hander Nick Cullen will take a four shot lead into the final round of the $1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open after posting a 67 at the Emeralda Golf Club on Saturday.
The unheralded golfer from Adelaide fired an impressive five-under-par third round score to sit on 11 under, enjoying a clear lead over fellow countryman Stephen Leaney in the opening event of the OneAsia season.
Cullen, 27, made six birdies and just one bogey and said his hard work on the practice ground was paying off this week.
"I have been practicing hard and I have put in a lot of hours the last few weeks. As long as I put in the work before I come away for a tournament, I know I am ready."
Cullen, who turned professional in 2009, said he was happy with his iron play but felt he could be doing more to make his life easier on the greens.
"I think I am giving myself too many downhill putts. It is hard to hole downhill putts as you cannot be aggressive," he said in comments released by the organisers.
Leaney, who has seven PGA Tour of Australasia titles and four European Tour wins to his name, also shot 67 on Saturday.
The 43-year-old, whose career was curtailed after being diagnosed with vertigo in 2008, had three bogeys and eight birdies -- including two in the last four holes -- leaving him well placed going into the final round.
American David Oh is a short further back on six under after carding a 71 while David Smail the leader at the halfway stage slipped back to five under after a costly 74 which included two double bogeys.
Indonesia's top golfer Rory Hie leads the local challenge after carding a 72 to lie one under for the tournament.
Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand is on the same score after returning a 69.
Leading scores after the third round (par 72):
205 - Nick Cullen (AUS) 72-66-67
209 - Stephen Leaney (AUS) 72-70-67
210 - David Oh (US) 72-67-71
211 - Ashley Hall (AUS) 70-74-67, David Smail (NZ) 68-69-74
212 - Park Eun-Shin (KOR) 74-69-69, Mamo Osanai (JPN) 71-72-69, Hu Mu (CHN) 73-68-71
213 - Anthony Summers (AUS) 75-71-67, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 70-71-72, Yoshikazu Haku (JPN) 70-69-74
214 - Ryu Hyun-Woo (KOR) 75-71-68, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 73-71-70, Jay Choi (US) 71-72-71, Kazuhiro Yamashita (JPN)-70-73-71, Daniel Fox (AUS) 73-70-71, Liang Wenchong (CHN) 69-73-72, Kim Meen-Whee (KOR) 70-70-74