MELBOURNE, 6 February 2005 — Australian left-hander Nick O’Hern fired an eight-under-par 63 to fend off the chasing pack and lead the $1.55 million Heineken Classic after the third round yesterday.

O’Hern, still feeling the effects of a knee operation late last year, forged to a one-stroke lead over compatriots Jarrod Lyle and Craig Parry on 14-under 199.

Lyle, who fought off leukemia six years ago as a teenager, had a five-under 66 and three-time Australian Masters champion Parry carded six-under 65 to be on 13-under 200.

South Africa’s world No. 3 Ernie Els closed in on his fourth consecutive victory in the co-sanctioned European Tour event to be three strokes off the lead in fourth spot on 11-under 202 heading into Sunday’s closing 18 holes.

“I love to get myself into position and if I get in there and play for a championship on Sunday I feel I’ve got another chance although I made some mistakes today,” said Els, who had a five-under 66 with an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys.

It is a clogged leaderboard after 54 holes with any one of eight golfers within five shots of O’Hern and in with a winning chance today.

Lyle, who spent nine months in hospital in 1999 undergoing chemotherapy treatment that eventually cured him, had another five-under round yesterday, with an eagle at the 456m second hole, four birdies and a solitary bogey to take the fight to the big boys.

Parry reeled off consecutive birdies at the last three holes to jump into joint second place after an immaculate third round of six birdies.

Australian Brett Rumford was in joint fourth place with Els after a five-under 66, but Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie lost ground yesterday with a one-over par 72 to be in 11th place on eight-under 205 and six shots behind O’Hern.

Montgomerie, who was the halfway leader with Australian Peter Lonard on nine-under, had a muddling round of three birdies and four bogeys on the homeward nine as he slumped from 12-under. Lonard was in a tie for sixth place after a one-under 70 after a frustrating round which only came to life with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to be 10-under 203, four adrift of the lead.

Mickelson Fires 60 to Grab Share of Phoenix Lead

In Jacksonville, Florida, Masters champion Phil Mickelson shot a blistering 11-under-par 60 to grab a share of the second-round lead at the Phoenix Open with South Korea’s Kevin Na in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday.

The left-hander, who made six bogeys in testing conditions in his opening round 73, grabbed nine birdies and an eagle to equal the course record and leap 39 places up the leaderboard to join Na, who shot a six-under-par 65, on nine-under-par 133.

Mickelson had a scorching end to his round with birdies on this final five holes to narrowly miss out on a piece of golfing history, finishing one stroke shy of the PGA Tour record of 59 for 18 holes, shared by David Duval, Al Geiberger and Chip Beck. He did shoot 59 in last November’s two-round Grand Slam of Golf, a non tour event, and Annika Sorrenstam is the only woman to match the score on the LPGA.

Mickelson and Na were to being third round three shots clear of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer of Germany and American Michael Allen, who both fired 66.

A group of eight players, including David Toms and Kenny Perry, lie a further shot adrift on five-under-par 137.

Overnight leader Dudley Hart slumped into a tie for 24th after following up Thursday’s 67 with a disappointing two-over-par 73.

World No. 1 Vijay Singh of Fiji faces an uphill battle to mount a serious challenge over the weekend after his one-over-par 72 left him 10 shots off the pace at 143.