Jason Scrivener moved into a one-shot lead early on a challenging third day of the ISPS Handa Vic Open.
The home favourite entered the day in a share of top spot and with wild weather presenting a challenge for the field, level par over his first three holes was enough for him to edge ahead at 14 under.
Callum Shinkwin and Matthew Stieger had set the target at 13 under in the morning at 13th Beach Golf Club, with Brad Kennedy also one shot off the lead after four holes.
Justin Harding was then in the clubhouse at 12 under alongside overnight co-leader Nick Flanagan and Grant Forrest.
Conditions were very tough for the early starters, with wind and rain replacing the relatively calm weather from days one and two.
That proved little problem for Australian Stieger, however, who made birdies on the second, third, tenth, 11th, 13th, 14th and last to get within one of the lead with a 65.
Shinkwin then joined him at 13 under with a 66 that included a double-bogey and eight birdies.
The Englishman made gains on the second, third, fifth, seventh, tenth and 11th, and bounced back from his blemish on the 13th with birdies on the 16th and last.
When the leaders got under way, the rain had relented a little but there was still a stiff breeze, although Kennedy made a birdie on the first from 15 feet.
Flanagan then went over the back of the green and failed to get up and down, meaning a par for Scrivener handed the 29 year old the solo lead.
That would not last for long as Scrivener found trouble in the waste area down the left of the second and surrendered a bogey to make it a five-way tie for the lead.
An excellent tee-shot on the par-three next then allowed Scrivener to make a birdie from ten feet and he was alone in front once more.
Flanagan found sand off the tee on the same hole and registered a second bogey of the day.
Harding had gains on the second, fifth, sixth, eighth, 14th and 15th in a 66 and was joined at 12 under by Scot Forrest, who birdied the fifth and holed a long putt on the sixth.
Nicolas Colsaerts and David Bransdon were in the clubhouse at 11 under, with Nick Cullen, David Law and Wade Ormsby in the early stages of their rounds.
