An eagle on the 14th hole enabled the England star to assume pole position for the final round. In what Rose describes as his 'shot of the year', he hit a long-iron approach to within inches on the par-five 14th, setting up his advantage over Raphael Jacquelin, Greg Chalmers and Aaron Pike.

Rose had been steady until his eagle, accounting for an early bogey with birdies on three of the par-fives . . . the sixth, seventh and 10th holes.

A late bogey at 17 . . . a hole he dropped a shot on during Thursday's opening round of 69 . . . gave the pack hope.

Frenchman Jacquelin carded a 67 in the cool, overcast conditions to be 11 under par, while Western Australian Chalmers signed for a 68.

Fellow Australian Pike . . .

the overnight leader who was seeking to become the youngest-ever and only amateur to win the gold jacket . . .

started his round poorly.

The 21-year-old entered day three at 11-under with a two-stroke lead, making a double-bogey at the first following a wayward drive, before bogeying the second.

Playing partner Rose later paid credit to the Northern Territorian, who won the 2005 Queensland Amateur championship.

Rose said: "He putted confidently and could have been a couple better, but it was a great way for him to finish."

World number 15 and tournament wildcard Paul Casey carded a 67 to be a further three shots back at eightunder. The Englishman was joined on that score by 1997 and 2002 champion Peter Lonard (69) and Spaniard Carl Suneson (69).

Casey said he travelled to Australia for a relaxing time, and considers it a bonus that he is in contention heading into Sunday.

Rose has different views on his trip to Australia, the 26-year-old keen to use a good performance . . . and potential victory . . . in this event as a springboard for bigger things.

He explained: "I certainly came in motivated to do well, relatively fresh still. I sit here 69th in the world and I can't be complacent.

"It's much easier when you are 15th in the world to look forward to the end of the season. For me it's an opportunity to move up higher in the world rankings and take another step in the right direction."

Casey had a rollercoaster ride after opening his third round with a birdie.

He bogeyed the short parfour second and the tough par-three fifth . . . the day's statistically hardest hole so far.

But he bounced back by eagling the sixth when he knocked a three-iron to 12 feet and converted, before birdies at nine, 10 and 11 moved him into striking distance of the lead.

He then birdied 13 and 14, however, a late bogey at 17 when a poor swing on his approach resulted in his ball winding up in a devilish greenside trap, checked his charge.

Meanwhile, Michelle Wie missed the cut for the 11th time in her 12 appearances on the men's tour, finishing second last in the Casio World Open in Japan.

The American, who hit her worst score (81) in a men's event in the first round, only managed an 80 in round two.

The 17-year-old had six bogeys and a double-bogey in a round she described as "pretty tragic".