The race for the Australian PGA Championship blew wide open as the leaders struggled in the early stages of the final round at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
South African pair Dylan Frittelli and Zander Lombard had share the overnight lead with American Harold Varner III, but all three were two over par in Queensland to leave the trio only a shot ahead of Swedish halfway leader David Lingmerth and home favourite Cameron Smith.
Playing in the final pairing, Frittelli and big-hitting Varner III both dropped a shot at the second the American also ran up a six at the long next.
Frittelli then bogeyed the fifth, with Lombard in the group ahead halting a slide of three straight dropped shots from the second with a welcome birdie at the fifth.
His playing partner Nathan Holman, who started the day one under, was also two over for his round after the Australian double bogeyed the first.
Lingmerth’s string of five straight pars to start looked increasingly impressive as those around him faltered.
Smith, who was fourth at the US Open Championship earlier in the year, was one under for the day through seven holes.
A one under par 71 had seen Wales’ Stuart Manley set the clubhouse target at five over, and while that was outside the top 20, it appeared likely his position would improve.
