Dawn patroller Matt Stieger has tamed the wind to storm all the way through the field in the third round of the men's Vic Open at 13th Beach.
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Stieger, who was beaten in a playoff by fellow Australian Matthew Griffin in the 2014 Vic Open, teed off in the first group at 0640 (AEDT) on Saturday and carded the day's lowest round of seven-under 65.
Remarkably he will now be playing in the final group on Sunday alongside outright leader Wade Orsmby.
South Australian Orsmby shot a two-under 70 to be at 15-under 201, two shots clear of Stieger and Englishman Callum Shinkwin.
The 27-year-old Steiger cut his teeth at the coastal Sydney club of St Michaels and was largely unfazed by the wind which whipped around 13th Beach throughout the third round.
"I've played a lot of golf in the wind so I actually like these types of conditions," said Stieger, the 2011 Australian Amateur champ.
"The first day it didn't blow at all and I shot one-under.
"Then yesterday it blew in the afternoon, I shot five-under and then it blew this morning and I shot seven-under.
"So it's getting better and better, which is good.
"I'm just hoping for another day like this tomorrow; that would be great."
Shinkwin was another early starter to make a big move on Saturday with a 66.
South African Justin Harding (66), Scotsman David Law (71) and Australian Brad Kennedy (72) were tied for fourth at 12-under 204.
Harding was one of the most improved players in the world last year, winning four tournaments to slash his global ranking from the 700s all the way to 73.
The wind got even stronger on Saturday afternoon, making low scoring much more difficult.
Overnight co-leaders Jason Scrivener and Nick Flanagan both had more than their fair share of troubles, carding a pair of 76s to tumble down the leaderboard to a tie for 10th.
But the man they will all be chasing is Ormsby, who bounced back brilliantly after a double-bogey seven at the 2nd hole.
"After that I fought hard all day, no bogeys and got it back under par which is nice," he said.
"I just knew I had to keep fighting.
"I knew my game was in pretty good nick and it was going to be a tough day.
"I made quite a few good saves and made birdies where I had to."
The $A1.5 million men's Vic Open is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
Australian Associated Press
