The scene is set for a mighty battle on the final day of the 2009 JBWere Masters after Aussies James Nitties and Greg Chalmers reigned in Tiger Woods’ three shot overnight lead. The trio sit in a three way tie at the top of the leaderboard promising a nail biting finish tomorrow.
 
They hold a two-shot lead over Melbourne golfer Cameron Percy (69) and American Jason Dufner (71) with another seven players within four shots of the lead including Aussies Stuart Appleby (71), Michael Sim (69), Scott Laycock (70) and Ashley Hall (72) all tied for eighth place on six under par.
 
After posting rounds of 66 and 68 for the first two days at Kingston Heath Woods battled to finish even par today after a mixed round that included two birdies and two bogeys. The world number one began by missing a birdie at the first but quickly regrouped to knock in a nine metre putt for birdie at the second. His bogey at the third was followed by six straight pars as he made the turn in 36. His back nine was much of the same with Woods revealing afterwards that his score complimented his performance.
 
"I hit some really good shots out there, but I hit some terrible shots as well - it was either-or - there was no grey area today," said Woods who is aiming for his first title on Australian soil.
 
"I was very fortunate - somehow I found a way of shooting par today because it certainly should have been a lot worse than that," Woods said.

"I have played myself into a tie for the lead and I could have easily played myself right out of the tournament.
 
For Chalmers (69), who began the day in a three way tie for the lead with Nitties and Dufner, his front nine score of 32 saw him reign in Woods’ lead by the turn as he picked up birdies at the first, sixth, eighth and ninth to take the lead at 11 under. One slip at the par four, 16th saw the left hander relinquish the outright lead but he has placed himself in a winning position which if he can pull it off will be his first title on home turf since he claimed the 1998 Australian Open. 
 
"I would have loved to have taken advantage of some of the shorter holes on the back nine, there's a couple of birdies to be had if you play those holes well," said Chalmers.
 
"I played them OK, just not great but I'm pleased, I'm really in a great position going into tomorrow."
"I needed to shoot a low score to catch up and a couple of us have done that."
 
"Regardless of whether or not Tiger or anybody else wins ... it has been a fantastic week, very successful," he said.
 
For 27 year old Novacastrian Nitties (69), it has been an impressive performance after a golf free month leading into the event. The 2009 PGA Tour rookie was the only player in the top 12 today to have a blemish free card which included two birdies on the front nine and one on the back.
 
"Today was probably my best ball-striking round of the week," he said.
 
"It's been good because I was pretty rusty coming in here and didn't have much expectation and I've played myself into form."
 
Asked what it would take for him to win the Masters, Nitties replied: "Hopefully Tiger doesn't turn up."
 
A hot front nine earned Jason Dufner the outright lead at one stage on Saturday, but he dropped a couple of shots late to card a 71.At eight-under, the 32-year-old from Cleveland Ohio holds a share of fourth place with Victorian Cameron Percy (69).
 
One shot behind them is Frenchman Francois Delamontagne  (68) and New Zealand’s Tim Wilkinson who looks to have comeback strongly from a thumb injury after firing a third round 67 to be in a share of sixth place.
 
Earlier, 30 year old Victorian Alistair Presnell, winner of the 2009 Moonah Classic on the Australasian/Nationwide Tour showed what was possible at Kingston Heath with a classy six-under 66, the best of the early third-round scores. He sits in a tie for 13th on five under alongside defending champion Rod Pampling (70) and Adam Scott whose solid third round three under 69 was his best of the tournament.
 
Matthew Goggin (74) shot two over for the day to be in a tie for 17th place on four under while one of the tournament favourites Geoff Ogilvy (71) is even with the card and back in 35th position.

Tomorrow’s final round begins at 6:45am with Cameron Percy and Tiger Woods teeing off in the second last group at 12:33 followed by the final pairing of Chalmers and Nitties at 12:42pm.

Leading Third Round Scores – JBWere Masters (Australian unless stated)
T1 (-10) Greg Chalmers 68 , 69 , 69 , 206, James Nitties  66 , 71 , 69 , 206, Tiger Woods  (USA), 66 , 68 , 72 , 206
T4 (-8) Jason Dufner (USA) 70, 67, 71, 208, Cameron Percy  67, 72 , 69 , 208
T6 (-7) Francois Delamontagne   (FRA) 71, 70 , 68 , 209,  Tim Wilkinson  (NZ) 71 , 71 , 67 , 209
T8 (-6) Stuart Appleby  69 , 70 , 71 , 210, Klas Eriksson  (SWE) 71 , 73 , 66 , 210, Ashley Hall   69 , 69 , 72 , 210, Scott Laycock   72 , 68 , 70 , 210, Michael Sim   70 , 71 , 69 , 210
T13  (-5) Rod Pampling  71 , 70 , 70 , 211, Alistair Presnell  72 , 73 , 66 , 211, Adam Scott  71 , 71 , 69 , 211, Bernd Wiesberger  (AUSTRIA) 72 , 67 , 72 , 211
T17 (-4) Seve Benson  (ENG) 71, 71, 70, 212, Mathew Goggin  68, 70, 74, 212