Local boy Matthew Jones maintains lead as defending champ Jordan Spieth gets closer

Defending champion Jordan Spieth will head into the final round of the Australian Open three shots behind leader Matt Jones after fighting back from a poor start for a four-under-par 67 on Saturday

Sydney: Defending champion Jordan Spieth will head into the final round of the Australian Open three shots behind leader Matt Jones after fighting back from a poor start for a four-under-par 67 on Saturday.


Jordan Spieth

Spieth had bogeys on three of the first four holes before making the turn at one over, but three more birdies and an eagle on the 17th got him back into contention in Sydney.

Jones had three bogeys on the front nine as well with playing conditions tough at the Australian Golf Club, but six birdies kept him out in front as his round of 68 left him 10 under overall.

Spieth had picked Jones as one of the danger men here before the tournament began, and Jones is enjoying proving him right. "There's one more day to go and I get to play with him," he said in a press conference shown on the tournament website.


Matthew Jones hits a tee shot on Day Three of the Australian Open in Sydney on Saturday. Pic/AFP

"There is no better person to beat on the final day. To have him in the group, to go up against the number one in the world will be a lot of fun."

Despite the added pressure, Jones said he would not deviate from the game plan which has got him this far. "I'm playing to a strategy I have," he said.

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