Macau, Oct 25 (IANS): Defending champion Scott Hend of Australia raced two shots clear of India’s Anirban Lahiri after battling to a four-under-par 67 in the third round of the Venetian Macau Open Saturday.

Despite feeling "flat", the in-form Hend dug deep into his reserves to produce three birdies over his closing six holes at the Macau Golf and Country Club to give himself a shot at winning a second straight title following his triumph at the Hong Kong Open last week.

Lahiri, who finished runner-up to Hend in Macau last season, carded a solid bogey-free 67 for second place while Thailand’s Prom Meesawat fired the day’s best of 64 to lie three behind the leader in the $900,000 Asian Tour event.

The Indian golfer reaped the rewards of spending extra time at the practice green after Friday’s lacklustre 73 as he rolled in birdies on one, six, nine and 17.

The 27-year-old, currently second on the Order of Merit, will be hoping to reproduce his opening round’s 61 or last year’s final round of 62 here to upstage Hend.

“When I left the range this morning, he (Hend) said he wanted to play with me and I’m looking forward to it,” smiled Lahiri, who is chasing his fifth Asian Tour title.

“I just told myself to come out more positively. Yesterday, I wasn’t in a good frame of mind but I just enjoyed my round today."

“There’s certainly a lot to play for, a lot at stake, a lot of goals and targets. Sometimes, you just have to remember to enjoy yourself which is what I did.”

Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand (67), winner here in 2009, Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (70), and co-overnight leader Adam Groom of Australia (72) are tied fourth, five back on 204 while South African star Ernie Els shot a 69 to lie in tied 22nd position on 211.