Defending champion Cameron Smith took the lead by three shots in the PGA Championship of Australia after a stellar five-under par performance on the third day of the tournament on the Gold Coast. Beginning the day with a single-shot lead, the Australian golfer navigated the course flawlessly, ending the day with a bogey-free round and a total score of fourteen-under after 54 holes, extending his lead over his competitors, Marc Leishman and others.
2016 champion Harold Varner III from the United States was tied for third place at seven-under in the co-sanctioned European Tour event along with Australia’s Matthew Millar. Smith made history by becoming the first player to successfully defend his title since Robert Allenby in 2001. Allenby displayed strong composure throughout the round, making key plays like escaping a greenside bunker and saving par multiple times.
Smith continued his impressive play by making gains on the ninth and fifth holes, finishing the front nine with a score of 34. He then added three birdies on the back nine, putting himself in a commanding position for the final round on Sunday. Smith expressed confidence in his performance, highlighting the final day as some of the best golf he has played, both mentally and in executing remarkable shots. Despite his struggles with short gameplay, Leishman, ranked 21st in the world, remains a strong contender in the tournament.
