NSW golfer John Lyras has bounced back from a rollercoaster front nine to remain atop the leaderboard for a third straight day at the men's Vic Open at 13th Beach.
The little-known 25-year-old mixed an eagle and two birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey in his opening nine holes on the Beach Course on Saturday.
But he turned it around in impressive style in tricky conditions, shooting three under for the back nine in a round of two-under 70 to move to 16 under.
That left Lyras a shot clear of fellow New South Welshman Dimi Papadatos (68), who won the 2017 Vic Open.
The 2014 Vic Open champion, Matthew Griffin, was in a group of four players tied for third at 14-under on a closely-packed leaderboard.
But the man they are all chasing is still Lyras, even though his lead has been trimmed from three shots to one.
"Simply put, I want to play the best round of golf that I can," he said.
"I don't like playing bad rounds of golf, it doesn't sit well with me.
"So tomorrow's no different.
"Yes there's a bit more pressure on me, from external pressures.
"But to me, I want to play the best I can, try to shoot a low one, put some good numbers on the board, more for myself than anything.
"If I can put a good round together tomorrow, I'll be happy."
The best round of the day came from West Australian Braden Becker, who shot a course-record 10-under 62 before the wind got up and rocketed into title contention at 12 under.
