HONG KONG: Australian Scott Hend swooped to the top of the Macau Open leaderboard Saturday on the back of two eagles to finish seven under-par and open up a three-shot gap trailed by defending champion Anirban Lahiri.

Hend eagled the second and 18th holes at the Macau Golf and Country Club, and finished the round in 64 aided by his fine putting.

He has set up a repeat of last year's final day showdown with world No. 39 Lahiri, who battled to a 68.

Lahiri's countryman Chiragh Kumar placed third with a round of 69 to tee up a four-shot deficit from the leader's pace, followed by Australian Sam Brazel and another Indian, Rashid Khan, who shot 68 and 69 respectively.

Hend, who triumphed in Macau two years ago and was pipped by Lahiri last season after a memorable final day duel, insisted he was not out to exact revenge against the current Asian Tour leader.

"No revenge, plenty of tournaments out there. All there is are rewards," said Hend.

Leading scores (par 71)

198 - Scott Hend (AUS) 66-68-64

201 - Anirban Lahiri (IND) 66-67-68

202 - Chiragh Kumar (IND) 67-66-69

203 - Rashid Khan (IND) 70-65-68, Sam Brazel (AUS) 68-66-69

204 - Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 65-68-71

205 - Brett Munson (USA) 66-74-65, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-71-66, Niall Turner (IRL) 70-68-67, David Lipsky (USA) 71-67-67, Steve Lewton (ENG) 72-66-67, Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 68-65-72


Kuchar on course to secure OneAsia title in Fiji

American Matt Kuchar will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Fiji International after an impressive 69 on Saturday left him as the only man under par.

The world number 16 made the most of slightly easier conditions to shoot an impressive three-under-par third round to sit two clear of Australian Aron Price (69).

Left-hander Nick Cullen, also from Australia, was a further four shots back in third on five-over after a 71.

The highlight of Kuchar's round was his approach to the par four 16th.

"It was one of the scariest shots to try and pull off," the six-times winner on the PGA Tour said.

"Sitting in a fairway bunker and had to get up over a lip, up over the rocks and underneath a tree limb. There was just enough of a window between the two, it looked like the perfect five iron.

"Fortunately I pulled it off, it was the right club and it came off beautifully,"

The 37-year-old went on to make par and put himself in pole position to claim the OneAsia Tour tournament, which has seen high scoring over the first two days following strong winds in the Pacific.

Home favourite and course designer Vijay Singh, the three-times major winner, moved within nine shots of Kuchar after firing his best round of the week on Saturday, a 71 to sit tied sixth.