Amateur Baddeley leads by a shot

Eighteen-year-old Australian amateur Aaron Baddeley upstaged some of the biggest names in golf on Saturday to take a one stroke lead into the final round of the Australian Open.

Baddeley, aiming to become the first non-professional to win the title since Bruce Devlin in 1960, said he was not surprised by his success.

"There's no pressure, this is fun. This is where I expected to be," he said. "I didn't strike the ball that well but I got away with a reasonable score."

The unheralded Australian held his nerve with a birdie on the 18th to finish with a two-under par 70 and an 11-under-par 54-hole total of 205.

He finished one clear of a five-strong group, including world number three Colin Montgomerie. Greg Norman was a further shot back after a record-equalling 64.

Ultra-consistent Montgomerie remained in contention with a second successive 67. The big Briton has played almost perfectly from tee to green -- hitting the putting surface 52 out of 54 times in regulation -- but has struggled occasionally with his putter.

He finished alongside Ireland's Paul McGinley (69), New Zealander Michael Long (68) and Australians Paul Gow (70) and Nick O'Hern (70).

"It's a very bunched leaderboard and one of those eight to 10 players is going to shoot a very low score tomorrow and win it -- I just hope it's me," said Montgomerie.

Norman, chasing his sixth Australian Open crown, blasted his way on to the leaderboard with a sizzling round which included four birdies and an eagle on the first seven holes.

His card not only matched the Royal Sydney course record but was also his lowest in 21 years at the Australian Open and just two off his career-best 62 at the 1993 Doral Ryder Open.

"I guarantee that if I shoot another score like that tomorrow, I'll win," Norman predicted.

There were plenty of genuine contenders snapping at Norman's heels, with New Zealand's overnight leader Michael Campbell (74) and Australia's former Scottish Open champion Peter O'Malley (70) just a shot behind him.

Australians Peter Lonard and David McKenzie both scored holes in one. Lonard aced the 141-metre third while McKenzie enjoyed his at the par-3 sixth.