THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD (GB and NI unless stated): -14 J Bickerton, R McGowan -12 F Aguilar (Chi), R Jacquelin (Fra), D Lee (NZ), T Pilkadaris (Aus) Selected others:-9 L Westwood -8 I Poulter -7 A Wall, N Dougherty, C Montgomerie -4 D Howell
McGowan was the English Amateur Champion in 2006
English duo Ross McGowan and John Bickerton were left sharing the lead after the third round of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.
McGowan, 26, put himself into a strong position for a first European Tour win with a seven-under-par round of 65.
Bickerton, 39, shot a fine 66, leaving both players tied on 14 under.
They hold a two-stroke advantage over a group of four players on 12 under that includes France's Raphael Jacquelin, and Chile's Felipe Aguilar.
McGowan, whose best previous result on the Tour was fifth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2007, fired seven birdies at The Vines Resort and Country Club.
He began the day on seven under, three shots behind overnight co-leaders Damien McGrane and Anthony Kang.
Birdies on the sixth and ninth saw him go out in 34 and he picked up five more on the back nine, including back-to-back birdies on the last two holes.
Bickerton had been eight under after two rounds but parred his first six holes before rolling in a 12-footer for his first birdie of the day on the seventh.
He then birdied six of the last 12 holes for a six under 66 that put him in contention for his first Tour win since 2007.
Anthony Kim, two strokes off the lead after the second round, had a nine on the par-five third and finished with a round of 75, moving from a tie for sixth to a tie for 46th.
Lee Westwood is in contention on nine-under after carding a 68 that included an eagle, five birdies and a double bogey, while Colin Montgomerie is seven-under after a level-par 72.
McGowan is optimistic for the final round and said: "It's where you want to be. Another good round, and we'll see how it goes.
"I just hit the ball nicely and hit a lot of fairways. Around here if you can do that, the second shots, third shots, aren't too tough."
Bickerton, chasing a fourth career victory, had missed four cuts in a row before arriving in Perth.
But he revealed he had a telephone conversation with his sports psychologist the night before.
"I'm not giving any secrets away, but I was quite focused and concentrated on playing the golf course and not the scoreboard, Bickerton said.
"You do get nervous out there, there's no doubt about it. Today I was very calm and I actually enjoyed it."
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