Allenby retains Masters lead

MELBOURNE LEADERBOARD -10 Robert Allenby (Aus) -8 James Nitties (Aus), Jarrod Moseley (Aus) -7 Rod Pampling (Aus) -6 Andrew Buckle (Aus), Craig Parry (Aus), Brad Lamb (Aus) -5 Peter Lonard (Aus), Peter Senior (Aus)

Australian Robert Allenby kept up his two-shot lead after the third round in the Australian Masters in Melbourne.

Allenby shot a level-par 72 to move to 10-under for the tournament.

He is two shots ahead of fellow countrymen James Nitties and Jarrod Moseley, with another Australian, Rod Pampling, a further shot back.

But defending champion Peter Lonard's hopes of retaining his title receded after double bogeys at the 12th and 18th took him to five-under.

Allenby, the world number 18, is struggling with the flu and admitted after his round that he lost his hearing in his right ear on the 12th tee.

"It made it pretty hard but I got it back after a hole or two holes although my head is blocked up with the flu," he said.

Allenby overcame a poor start when his opening tee shot went into trees guarding the left of the fairway and he three-putted it for a double-bogey.

But although he dropped three more shots, five birdies helped him get back on track.

Former US PGA winner Steve Elkington, playing in his home country for the first time in five years, had seven bogeys and a double-bogey on his way to a 79.

His playing partner Adam Scott dropped three shots in the last four holes for a 73.

Swede Jens Nilsson is the best place non-Australian at the Huntingdale course with a share of 10th place after carding a 69.