Following the completion of Round 2 on Saturday morning, Round 3 began with Chalmers seven strokes back and in a tie for 13th but would end with the West Australian tied with Els at 10-under in a congested leaderboard.

Fellow Aussie Richard Green (70) is part of that log-jam at 8-under and outright fifth, Richard Bland (74) and Chris DiMarco (71) one back of Chalmers (66) and Els (69) at 9-under.

Making just his fifth start in the senior ranks and without full status on the Champions Tour, Chalmers knows that there will be emotions in the final round that he has not experienced since his lone win on the PGA TOUR in 2016.

“This is the thing, I haven’t had this for so long” said Chalmers, who soared up the leaderboard with a run of six birdies in seven holes around the turn in Round 3.

“This is the great thing about Champions Tour golf.  It feels like you’re part of a big event, which you are.

“I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity. I need the challenge. I’m looking forward to see how I do tomorrow and how I play.

“See if I can embrace it with both hands and play some good golf.”

What a Third Round for Greg Chalmers! #SrPGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Ye4N1FEj20

— KitchenAid Senior PGA Champ (@seniorpgachamp) May 25, 2024

Although he had three bogeys on the front nine, Green was able to keep himself in contention with twin eagles at five and nine.

He holed an 80-foot putt from the front of the green for eagle on five and then chipped in from 35 yards on nine, the three-time winner on the Legends Tour in Europe eager to convert a chance to win in the US for the first time.

“Those two eagles, you know, they saved my round today big time,” said Green.

“I dropped a couple shots, and to get myself back under par and through nine holes was really nice.

“When things go right like that, you feel like you’re in for a good week.

“You know, I work so hard on my game in the background and it feels like it would be nice to be my time.”

Leave the putter in the bag, Richard Green! 🙌

Watch LIVE on @NBC. #SrPGAChamp pic.twitter.com/261JsPhB8p

— KitchenAid Senior PGA Champ (@seniorpgachamp) May 25, 2024

The Australian flag is prominent down the leaderboard through three rounds.

Scott Hend (70) is just one back of Green in a tie for sixth, Cameron Percy (68) is tied for 16th in his PGA TOUR Champions debut, Stuart Appleby (72) and Michael Wright (75) are in a share of 25th with David McKenzie (71), Mick Smith (74) and Mark Hensby (77) eager to improve their standings in the final round.

Australasian scores after Round 3
T1        Greg Chalmers             69-68-66—203
5          Richard Green              64-71-70—205
T6        Scott Hend                   68-68-70—206
T16      Cameron Percy             69-72-68—209
T25      Stuart Appleby             70-69-72—211
T25      Michael Wright            69-67-75—211
T49      David McKenzie           72-72-71—215
T55      Mick Smith                  72-70-74—216
T55      Mark Hensby               68-71-77—216
T60      Vijay Singh (FI)             67-77-73—217
MC       Steve Allan                   73-73—146
MC       Michael Long (NZ)        72-74—146
MC       Rod Pampling              70-77—147
MC       David Bransdon           76-75—151
MC       Brad Burns                   72-81—153
DQ       John Senden                75-70—145
WD      Michael Campbell (NZ)

Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images