Brendan has taken the third round lead at the Mistubishi Diamond Cup event in Ibaraki, adding a round of 67 to move two ahead of a group of three players entering tomorrow's final round.

Starting the day four shots behind Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol, Brendan raced to the turn on the demanding Aorai Golf Club's layout in 31 and when he added two further birdies by the 14th he was three ahead of Takashi Kanemoto.

Then came two late bogies but he had done enough to establish his two shot lead of Plaphol, Kanemoto and Japan Golf Tour veteran Tommy Nakajima.

Victory tomorrow and the accompanying Yen 30 million would take Brendan to the top of the 2009 Japan Golf Tour money list but in order to do so he knows he faces a tough task.   

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