Packed leaderboard at the  HSBC NZPGA

Saturday, Mar 7, 2009

Fifteen golfers are within three shots of the lead as the field starts the second nine on day three of the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championships at Clearwater.

Australian Michael Sim and American Steve Friesen lead at 11 under the card, two shots clear of five others including New Zealanders Danny Lee and Steve Alker.

Alker lept up the leaderboard when he holed a long iron for an eagle on the tough Par 4 sixth, while Lee has missed several birdie opportunities including hitting the flag on eight with his third and then missing from eight feet on 10 and three feet on 11.
New Zealand's Josh Geary is in a tie for eighth along with two-time winner Peter O'Malley, from Australia,