Queenslander Anthony Quayle holds a one shot lead after three rounds of the Lawnmaster Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship.

The field was greeted with a strong breeze which lasted most of the day at the Manawatu Golf Club and certainly kept most of the players in check.

In just his first year as a Professional, Quayle showed composure to play a conservative game and emerge on top ahead of the final round, finishing 12-under the card with a third round 2-under 69.

“I’m happy with my round today in pretty tough conditions to hold on to a lead,” Quayle said.

“It was a grind; it was so hard the wind was at some stages up to like a three club wind maybe even a four club wind. It was gusty, so it was really blowing and then backing right off.

“So it was difficult to pick clubs and commit to the shots you wanted to hit. I think the way I stayed patient out there to still hang in and shoot a good round was positive.”

After his record equaling round of 63 yesterday, New Zealander Shaun Jones was another who battled through the windy conditions, signing off with 1-over 72 to be in a share of second on 11-under the card.

“It was definitely a grind out there, I was just trying to buy one putt but I think I caught them all yesterday,” Jones said.

“There’s still plenty of birdies out there and looking at the leaderboard I’m only one back, it felt like I was about five back, but I’ve still got a good chance.”

New South Welshman Ben Clementson continued his consistent play so far in the tournament and handed in a score of 2-under 69 to be part of the three way tie for second.

“I’ve played solid the last three days, especially yesterday afternoon, I grinded out for a good 3-under par,” Clementson said.

“I like playing in the wind so it kind of suits me around here; I’m pretty happy where I am at the moment.”

Rounding out the trio tied for third is New Zealand’s Ben Campbell who shot 6-under 65, the score of the round.

“I got off to a nice start, I was 3-under through four which was good,” Campbell said.

“I actually found the winds pretty tough to pick for a couple of shots, but I played pretty solid and putted well which is something I’ve been struggling with a little bit in the last month or so.”

Campbell said he’s confident of a good result thanks to his local knowledge of the course, having previously lived in Palmerston North.

“I know this course fairly well, I lived here for about a year. Just knowing where a couple of the flags are tucked and where you’ve got to hit it has definitely helped the last couple of days.”

In a four-way-tie for fifth on 10-under the card are Gareth Paddison (NZ), Matthew Giles (NSW), Jarryd Felton (WA) and Josh Younger (VIC).

Still within striking distance of the lead on 9-under the card are Lincoln Tighe (NSW), Harry Bateman (NZ), Tyler Hodge (NZ) and last year’s winner Brad Kennedy (QLD).