Heineken Classic

Nick Faldo edged towards his first career win in almost six years on Saturday with a sensational seven-under-par 65 in the third round in Melbourne.

The six-time Major winner, who last triumphed in the Nissan Open in 1997, began the day eight shots off the pace.

Leaderboard (Eng unless stated)

-11 Nick Faldo -10 Paul Casey, Peter Lonard (Aus), Niclas Fasth (Swe) -9 Steve Webster, David Lynn -8 Ernie Els (Rsa), David Smail (Nzl)

But, following one of his best rounds in recent seasons, he moved into a one-shot lead.

Afterwards he credited South African Ernie Els for his change in fortunes.

Faldo said: "I saw Ernie having a good round and then I had the eagle on nine and I thought 'I'm having a good round here'.

"I came out with good intentions. I worked on things last night and that was key. I made some rules, obeyed them and tried to be really aggressive."

Els, like Faldo, had started the day way off the pace but moved from 10 shots off the lead to just three behind the Englishman at the close of play following six birdies in 11 holes.

Faldo started the day solidly with a birdie on the first three holes of the day before rounding off the front nine with a 40-foot eagle putt.

The former world number one refused to capitulate on the back nine, adding further birdies on the 10th and 16th.

While Faldo and Els flourished, overnight leader Paul Casey struggled to keep his early form and dropped to second on 10-under, level with Peter Lonard and Niclas Fasth.

Bob Hope Classic

Trinidadian Stephen Ames produced another inspired round of golf to move into a share of the lead in the California desert.

Ames had started the day two shots off overnight leader Jay Haas but an eight-under-par round of 64 made him co-leader with Tim Herron after the third round.

Leaderboard (US unless stated)

-22 Stephen Ames (Tri), Tim Herron -21 Jay Haas -20 Mike Weir (Can), Rodney Pampling (Aus) -19 JL Lewis -18 Chris DiMarco, Steve Lowery, David Gossett.

Herron was the form man of the La Quinta course, though, after carding a 61 over the 18 holes.

Ames' only win to date on American soil came in 1991 with victory in the Pensacola Open on the Ben Hogan Tour.

"Going into today, Phillip Price came up to me and asked me what this course was like," said Ames, "and I said, 'Well, you don't see too many 64s or 65s around here'."

Haas fell just one shot off the pace following his round of 67 to stand alone in third place.

The 49-year-old, who won the event back in 1988, had shot a career-best 61 on day two for an early lead.

Canada's Mike Weir and Australian Rodney Pampling are tied for fourth on 196, one stroke ahead of JL Lewis and two clear of Chris DiMarco, Steve Lowery and David Gossett.