Third year PGA Trainee from Royal Sydney Golf Club Ben Stowe has a commanding lead in the National Futures Championship following a course-record round of 7-under 65.

It’s Stowe’s first course record after breaking the old score of 66 by one shot at Ballarat Golf Club.

“I didn’t know I had the record so that’s really cool. I’ve never held a course record before so it’s nice to have my name next to something like that,” said Stowe who now leads the tournament by four shots at 9-under the card.

“I definitely got off to a better start today and eased myself into it with par, birdie start. Then I was lucky enough to hole out from 85 meters on the third hole for a nice eagle.

“I just kept the momentum going through the round, I birdied seven, eagled 10, birdied 11, birdied 13, birdied 15, I just didn’t do too much wrong.

“I made a couple of bogeys as well but I’ll cop those, it was a great round of golf.”

Stowe will play in the same group in round four as he did today after his playing partners Frazer Droop and Brayden Petersen put together great rounds to stay within reach of the lead.

“We all sort of fed off each other, Brayden had 3-under and Frazer had 2-under, we all sort of kept each other going. I was just lucky enough to make a few more putts and hit some nice shots to put me in a good spot for tomorrow.

“I know the guys will be coming at me as hard as they can so I’ve just got to keep my foot down and not get too aggressive, just keep making some nice putts and hopefully it’s good enough.”

Defending champion Droop, a second year Trainee from Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, continues to battle through illness but is still within reach of Stowe at 5-under the card following his round of 2-under 70.

“It was another good grind today, just hanging in there really, I’ll give it everything tomorrow,I won’t leave anything in the tank,” said Droop who has proven he can go low after posting his own course record of 8-under 62 at RACV Cape Schanck Resort just a fortnight ago during the Victorian PGA Championship.

“Full credit to Ben, he played unreal today it was great to watch, you’ve got to appreciate every one of those rounds, well done to him today.

“I’ll head into tomorrow a few back but I’ll still keep the game-plan exactly the same but I’ll just try and empty the tank and give it everything I’ve got.”

The 2018 Rich River Trainee Classic champion Brayden Petersen, a first year Trainee from Asquith Golf Club, is one shot further back at 4-under the card following a round of 3-under 69.

He too certainly has the ability to record low scores after winning Rich River by a commanding seven shots, after  shooting a round of 8-under 64 during that week.

“I’m playing well at the moment and the course is in good shape, so to have a repeat of Rich River would be great,” said Petersen.

“I definitely think there’s a low round out there to catch Ben but full credit to him today, he played well and it was nice to watch.”

Mitch Gannon, a first year Trainee from Kogarah Golf Club is fourth at 2-under the card with second year Trainee Cooper Eccleston from Victoria Park Golf Complex rounding out the top-5 at 1-under the card.

For the full leaderboard visit pga.org.au.

The leading group of Frazer Droop, Ben Stowe and Brayden Petersen will tee off at 9:23am AEDT.

For full tee times, visit pga.org.au.