Allenby, Sim clash in final round of Australian Masters

Nov 29, 2008 - 6:46 PM MELBOURNE, Australia (Ticker) -- Robert Allenby and Michael Sim share a two-shot lead atop the leaderboard entering Sunday's final round of the Australian Masters at Huntingdale.

Chasing his third Masters title, Allenby landed a rare and precious albatross - only the third on the Australasian Tour in the past 20 years - en route to a 5-under-par 67 during the third round on Saturday.

But, alongside Allenby at 10-under overall following a 68 during his third round is playing partner Sim, the 24-year-old former world No. 1 amateur who is finally starting to realize his potential after two years disrupted by stress fractures in his lower back.

Huntingdale member Ashley Hall sits alone in third place two shots off the pace following his third-round 68, while Rod Pampling (70), Anthony Summers (71) and Englishman Steve Webster (70) are at 7-under for the tournament.

Seven players either held the lead outright or shared it on Saturday, including overnight leader Tim Clark, who surrendered 28 places following his disappointing 4-over 76.

Sim's third round did not start well, bogeying the first and third holes, and when Allenby's albatross dropped, the West Australian had slipped five strokes behind his playing partner.

But Sim worked his way back into it with birdies at six, seven and eight and began to believe that something special was happening when he dropped a 33-foot putt for eagle at the 606-yard par-5 14th.

The stakes and the pressure will be ramped up when Sim and Allenby pair up again on Sunday for what Sim believes may develop into matchplay.