Jones maintains lead at Australian Open, Spieth 3 behind

Matt Jones shot a 3-under 68 to hold a three-stroke advantage over a surging Jordan Spieth after the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday.

Defending champion Spieth holed out with his shot from the fairway on the par-4 17th for an eagle, then had a tap-in birdie on 18 for a 67.

The course has been tough, with only 18 under par after the first round and 12 after the second.

Spieth had a roller-coaster of a front nine in which he bogeyed three of his first four holes and birdied the next two before finishing the front nine with a bogey and a birdie just two pars going out.

Last year, Spieth shot a final-round 63, a record on the revamped Jack Nicklaus-designed course, to win by six strokes.

1 player in the world,” Jones said of his final-round pairing with Spieth in the 100th Australian Open.

It came after he failed to make a birdie in his Friday round, and Scott said he couldn’t recall the last time that had happened.

Scott, who was also nine strokes behind after the second round, said he still felt he has a chance to win on Sunday, which would be his second Australian Open title after winning in 2009.